Tropical storm Manuel surged to hurricane strength off the Pacific coast Wednesday, with potential to strengthen before crashing ashore as Mexico reels from deadly storms, the National Hurricane Center said.
A man wades through a flooded street in Acapulco, state of Guerrero, Mexico, on September 18, 2013 as heavy rains hit the country.
Packing sustained winds of almost 115 kilometers per hour (75 mph), "some slight strengthening is possible before the hurricane moves inland" the Miami-based NHC warned in a report at 0001 GMT (Thursday).
The storm was about 20 miles southwest of Altata, Mexico, moving north at 5 miles per hour, the NHC said.