Hurricane Erick was upgraded to a Category 4 storm early Thursday as Mexico's Pacific coast braced for it to make landfall. 

Erick packs maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 kph) and was moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). This makes the storm an "extremely dangerous" Category 4, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The storm was Category 1 as of Wednesday morning but has quickly climbed the scale since.

Erick's projected path crept south, late on Wednesday. "On the forecast track, the center of Erick is expected to make landfall in the western portion of the Mexican state of Oaxaca or the eastern portion of the Mexican state of Guerrero this morning, and then continue inland over southern Mexico later today." the NHC said in its latest advisory.

Forecasters warned that the hurricane could stengthen further before making landfall. It would then likely weaken as it moves inland. 

The NHC had earlier warned of "damaging winds and life-threatening flash floods to portions of southern Mexico" when Erick makes landfall.

With forecasters warning of intense rainfall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, bringing "life-threatening flooding and mudslides," President Claudia Sheinbaum urged those living in low-lying areas or near rivers to move to shelters.

Around 2,000 temporary shelters have been set up in Guerrero and Oaxaca, and hundreds of troops and electricity workers have been made ready to assist in any clean-up effort.

The mountainous region along the coast is particularly prone to mudslides and there are numerous rivers that could burst their banks.

In Acapulco, a major port and resort famous for its nightlife, police patrolled the beach and drove around town warning residents and holidaymakers of the storm's arrival.

Evelyn Salgado, the governor of Guerrero, said Wednesday that all schools had been closed.

Mexico experiences severe storms every year between May and November, on both its Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

In September 2024, Storm John, a Category 3 storm, killed 15 people.

In October 2023, Acapulco was pummeled by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm that resulted in at least 50 deaths.

Edited by: Rana Taha and Kieran Burke