Erick was expected to reach hurricane strength as it neared land Wednesday. The cyclone was centered about 180 miles (290 kilometers) south-southeast of Puerto Ángel, Mexico, at 3 a.m. CST (0800 GMT), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring three tropical waves in the Atlantic basin. Tropical wave 1: An eastern Atlantic tropical wave is along 23W, south of 14N, moving westward at 6 to 11 mph. Tropical wave 2: A central Atlantic tropical wave is along 43W, south of 13N, moving westward at 6 to 11 mph.

Tropical Storm Erick is forecast to become a major hurricane in the Pacific Ocean and strike western Mexico one day after becoming named storm, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday.