Hurricane Lane is gaining power as it roars up Mexico's Pacific coastline, and has now strengthened into a Category 2 storm, authorities said.
Hurricane Lane has made landfall in Mexico, lashing the country's Pacific coastline with heavy winds and torrential rain.
A hurricane warning was in effect for the tip of Baja California peninsula and the coast of Sinaloa state.
The eye of the category three storm missed the coastal resort of Mazatlan, slamming into a sparsely populated area north of the town.
A seven-year-old boy reportedly died as a result of flooding in Acapulco.
It is projected to weaken slightly as it bears down on the state capital of Culiacan, home to 750,000 people.
Emergency workers, already exhausted by Hurricane John, which traced a similar path two weeks ago, said they were making all possible preparations.
A hurricane warning is in effect for a 350km (210-mile) stretch of coastline.
At 1700 EDT (0100 GMT), Hurricane Lane was about 130km (80 miles) west-northwest of Cabo Corrientes - the cape off mainland Mexico's Jalisco province - said the US National Hurricane Center.
By Saturday afternoon local time the hurricane was packing winds of up to 190 km/h (120 mph) and was moving north at 17 km/h.
It was heading north-northwest at about 20km hour, packing sustained speeds of near 160km/h - making it a Category 2 hurricane.
It was about 50 km south-east of Culican and 155 km north-west of Mazatlan.
Tourists scrambled to leave before the hurricane hit
'Really ugly'
The hurricane was predicted to remain offshore for at least the next 24 hours, but authorities warned a slight deviation from its predicted path could bring it ashore sooner than forecast.
Mazatlan was caught off-guard when the storm swung unexpectedly towards it after initially heading for the Baja California peninsula.
Some tourists were taking no chances.
Parts of the town suffered power cuts, and the resort's independence day parade was cancelled.
"I don't want to be here when the hurricane hits," Robert Compton, a 58-year-old retired plumber from Las Vegas, who was flying out of Los Cabos resort on the Baja California peninsula, told Reuters news agency.
"It's really ugly out there," said Alma Baldez, as she handed out candles to guests at a hotel in the town, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Boarded up
But there was relief on the Baja California peninsula, where at least three people died during Hurricane John two weeks ago.
In the path of Lane, authorities warned of storm surges and large, powerful waves. Heavy rain was also forecast.
"It looks like we dodged the bullet," said Ricardo Rodriguez, a fishing tours salesman in Los Cabos resort.
Residents in the hurricane's projected path boarded up buildings and stocked up on emergency supplies.
Further south on Friday, a seven-year-old boy died in a rockslide as the Hurricane Lane dumped heavy rains on the resort of Acapulco.
"We're all tired but we're getting ready to face another one," Jose Garcia Gajon, civil protection head for the state of southern Baja California, told Reuters.
And flooding forced at least 500 people from their homes in the port city of Lazaro Cardenas.
"We're going to prepare as if it were going to hit, because with these things, you don't mess around," he said.
Forecasters have warned that the storm could unleash up to 63cm (25 inches) of rainfall, bringing with it flash floods and mudslides
Further south-west along the Mexican mainland coast, in Acapulco, a seven-year-old boy died in a landslide after the storm dumped the city with rain, officials said, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Many residents in the hurricane's projected path have boarded up buildings and stocked up on emergency supplies.
Flooding was also reported elsewhere in Guerrero province.
