A hurricane heading toward Mexico strengthened Sunday to a Category 4 storm as it prepares to make landfall this week.

Hurricane Willa is now an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm that will "produce life-threatening storm surge, wind and rainfall," the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory notice Sunday.

ADVERTISEMENT

The hurricane is expected to make landfall Tuesday over portions of southwest and west-central Mexico. The storm is expected to continue strengthening before making landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A hurricane watch is in effect along a portion of Mexico's western coast, from San Blas to Mazatlán. Additionally, a tropical storm warning is in effect from Playa Pérula to San Blas.

Willa is the latest storm in a hurricane season that has included Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael, storms that wreaked havoc in the southeastern United States earlier this fall.