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

The storm had been a Category 4 hurricane as it bore down from the eastern Pacific toward Mexico. The authorities ordered evacuations in Oaxaca and Guerrero.

Erick peaked as a Category 4 hurricane prior to moving onshore early Thursday morning along the southwestern coast of Mexico, where it is unleashing life-threatening conditions. Erick will slowly lose wind intensity.