Expected to make landfall on Wednesday (25 October), the hurricane will bear down on Mexico’s Pacific south coast between San Jose del Progreso and San Jeronimo de Juarez.
Top holiday spots such as Acapulco and Puerto Escondido could be hit by “destructive waves” and heavy flooding, said the US National Hurricane Center.
“A potentially catastrophic storm surge is expected to produce life-threatening coastal flooding near and to the east of where the centre makes landfall,” the meteorology agency said.