Erick became an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane early Thursday, as it crossed the Pacific Ocean en route to western Mexican two days after becoming a named storm.

Hurricane Erick strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon as it churns in the Pacific Ocean near coastal southern

The storm is forecast to rapidly intensify and become a Category 3 hurricane with 115-mph winds before making landfall along the coast of western Oaxaca or eastern Guerrero June 19. Hurricane watches and warnings, along with a tropical storm warning, have been issued.