Hurricane Erick rapidly intensified over the last 24 hours, growing into a powerful Category 4 storm but weakening slightly before making landfall.

Tropical Storm Erick is expected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane this week, with some meteorologists anticipating it will reach major hurricane status before making landfall in Mexico on Thursday morning.

Erick was a Category 3 hurricane over Mexico Thursday morning Mexico Central Time, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory. The hurricane had sustained wind speeds of 125 miles per hour.