Hurricane Erick is expected to strengthen rapidly into a major Category 3 storm, before making landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast on Thursday, Mexico's civil protection agency has said.

Having doubled in strength in less than a day and still expected to grow further, Hurricane Erick on Wednesday chugged through the ideal environment to power up quickly as it approached Mexico's southern Pacific Coast.

Fernandez MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Hurricane Erick is rapidly strengthening off Mexico's Pacific coast and is expected to intensify into a major Category 3 hurricane before making landfall, authorities said on Wednesday.