PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico (AP) — Erick rapidly strengthened Wednesday afternoon into a Category 2 hurricane as it churned toward Mexico’s southern coast amid warnings it is likely to become a dangerous major hurricane capable of pummeling the region with damaging winds, life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Erick’s maximum sustained winds had risen by early afternoon to 100 mph (155 kph) as the intensifying storm headed toward an expected landfall sometime Thursday.

By Tuesday afternoon, Erick was centered in the eastern Pacific about 105 miles (165 kilometers) south of Puerto Ángel and about 215 miles (345 kilometers) southeast of Punta Maldonado, the Miami-based hurricane center said in an advisory.

Forecasters said the dangerous storm was expected to lash Mexico’s Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the center’s advisory says. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain.

Hours earlier, Erick was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph) as it continued its northwest approach toward the coast at 8 mph (13 kph).

The hurricane center said Erick was forecast to reach major hurricane strength late Wednesday night or early Thursday as it approaches the coast where it is expected to then move inland. A major hurricane is defined as Category 3 or higher and wind speeds of at least 111 mph (180 kph).