A hurricane watch was issued Tuesday for parts of southern Mexico as a tropical depression in the eastern Pacific Ocean intensified.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, the system is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm later Tuesday and could reach hurricane status by Wednesday.
As of the latest update, the depression had sustained winds of 35 mph (56 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph). Once its winds reach 39 mph (63 kph), it will be named Erick.
The center of the storm was located approximately 495 miles (800 kilometers) southeast of Punta Maldonado in Guerrero state and is predicted to near the Mexican coastline by late Wednesday.
A hurricane watch was in place from Bahia de Huatulco in Oaxaca state to Punta Maldonado, indicating that hurricane-force winds — over 74 mph (119 kph) — are possible within 48 hours.
Additionally, a tropical storm watch was issued for the area from Salina Cruz to Bahia de Huatulco.
Forecasters also warned of heavy rainfall expected in parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lighter rain predicted for Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz, and parts of El Salvador and Guatemala.