A tropical wave moved off the western coast of Africa on June 18 and continued westward across Central America and into the eastern Pacific by June 29. It subsequently interacted with a large cyclonic gyre, leading to an increase in convective activity and the formation of an area of low pressure. Following satellite and microwave data, the disturbance was upgraded to a tropical depression at 1200 UTC on July 4. Initially, moderate easterly shear prevented much organization as the system tracked west-northwest; however, a reprieve in upper-level winds by 0000 UTC on July 5 allowed the depression to intensify into Tropical Storm Erick as convective bands gained more curvature. A period of steady intensification over the next day allowed the system to attain Category 1 hurricane intensity at 0600 UTC and reach its peak with winds of and a minimum barometric pressure of six hours later. Decreasing ocean temperatures caused the convective appearance to deteriorate at a steady pace; by 1800 UTC on July 7, Erick weakened to a tropical storm, and by 0600 UTC on July 9, the system no longer sustained enough organization to be considered a tropical cyclone.
