Hurricane Erick had strengthened to a Category 4 storm as it approached the coast but weakened to a Category 2 storm before making landfall on Thursday.

Hurricane Erick, which rapidly intensified overnight, made landfall Thursday morning on Mexico's Pacific Coast as a powerful Category 3 storm, authorities said.

Hurricane Erick made landfall in Oaxaca, Mexico, on Thursday and, according to the National Hurricane Center, has grown to an “extremely dangerous” storm. With hurricane season just beginning, and cuts to federal weather agencies planned,