The United States National Hurricane Center warned that the storm’s slow pace and heavy rains could cause potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides in some Mexican states.

Hurricane John rapidly strengthened to a Category 2 storm on Monday and was expected to intensify further before hitting Mexico's southern Pacific coast in the coming hours, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical Storm John struck Mexico’s southern Pacific coast with life-threatening flood potential after growing into a major hurricane in a matter of hours.