The storm is currently located over the Pacific Ocean about 515km south-southwest from the tip of Baja California, home to the popular tourist town Cabo San Lucas, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC).

“It’s expected that Kay will continue to intensify, and will reach hurricane Category 2 this Tuesday afternoon and evening,” a spokesperson for Mexico’s National Water Commission, Conagua, said in a press conference.

A Category 2 storm packs sustained winds of 154km-177km per hour.

The NHC said strengthening is forecast during the next 36 hours, and over that time Kay could become a major hurricane, defined as a Category 3 storm or stronger.

Kay is expected to reach near the west-central coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula by Thursday and Friday.

Heavy rainfall from Kay could lead to flash flooding, including landslides, across portions of western Mexico, including the peninsula, through Thursday night, said the NHC.

Mexico’s government has issued a tropical storm watch on the east coast of the peninsula from Loreto to Santa Rosalia.

Over the weekend, Kay damaged houses, felled trees and overflowed rivers in the state of Guerrero and in the port of Acapulco, on the Pacific Coast. Read full story.