Tropical Storm Erick is expected to rapidly intensify before it arrives in Mexico later this week, with some meteorologists anticipating the storm to reach major hurricane strength before landfall. Animated weather footage from windy.

Erick, now a tropical storm, is forecast to become a hurricane before making landfall southeast of Acapulco on Thursday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.

A hurricane warning was issued Tuesday for a portion of southern Mexico as Tropical Storm Erick gained strength in the Pacific Ocean, forecasters said.