MEXICO CITY -  Hurricane Erick, now an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm, was located very near Mexico's southern Pacific coast and is expected make landfall on Thursday, authorities said.

The hurricane was located about 85 km southeast of Punta Maldonado, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, packing maximum sustained winds 220 km per hour, the US National Hurricane Center said in a report.

"Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area beginning during the next few hours, with extremely destructive winds near the core of Erick," NHC said in the early hours of Thursday.

A hurricane warning is in effect between the tourist enclaves of Acapulco and Puerto Angel, as there was no certainty on the exact location where the storm will make landfall.

"The hurricane is expected to impact during Thursday morning as a powerful category 4 hurricane between Lagunas de Cha-cha, Oaxaca, and Punta Maldonado, Guerrero," the Mexican Ministry Of Environment said in a statement.

Scientists have warned that Erick could become the most intense hurricane to make landfall along Mexico's Pacific coast this early in the season.

Erick will be the first hurricane to make landfall in Mexico this hurricane season, which runs from May to November. Forecasters predict an above-average active season, with between eight and 11 hurricanes, and four to six of those reaching major hurricane status.

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Emergency preparations

Up to about 41 cm of rain is expected to hit the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, according to NHC.

Both states have begun emergency planning and taken preventive actions with local authorities. Over 18,000 first responders have been deployed and over 500 temporary shelters have been activated, according to authorities.

Mexican authorities are also coordinating evacuation and care efforts for tourists in popular beach destinations, including Acapulco, which is still hurting from Hurricane Otis' devastation, opens new tab in October 2023.

Acapulco's international airport announced on its X account that all flights scheduled for Thursday had been suspended.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents to stay indoors and move to shelters if they are in flood-prone areas.

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Mexico's national water commission, Conagua, warned rainfall in coastal areas could trigger landslides and flooding, with waves reaching up to 6 meters high.