Washington, Oct 23 (IANS): Hurricane Patricia, heading towards Mexico, is a "potentially catastrophic hurricane", forecasters said after the storm increased in strength to category 5, the media reported on Friday.
"Satellite images indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 260 kmph with higher gusts," the National Hurricane Centre said Thursday night.
The hurricane is expected to make landfall on the Pacific coast near Punta San Telmo late Friday as an extremely dangerous storm, CNN reported.
"Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion today," the centre said.
As of late Thursday night, the storm was about 320 km south of resort city Manzanillo, moving northwest at 17 kmph.
A hurricane warning is in effect on Mexico's Pacific Coast from San Blas to Punta San Telmo.
Patricia is expected to bring heavy rainfall, destructive waves and powerful winds, forecasters added.