"Extremely Dangerous" Rick a Category 5

Last Updated 6:54 p.m. ET

Hurricane Rick has become an "extremely dangerous" Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the storm is now packing sustained winds of 160 mph and it could threaten the Baja California peninsula next week.

Authorities in the resort of Acapulco closed the port to small craft after Rick kicked up heavy waves and gusts of wind.

Rick was centered about 290 miles south of the port of Manzanillo, west of Acapulco, on Saturday afternoon and was moving northwest near 15 mph.

Forecasters expect it to stay well off the coast for several days before bending east over cooler waters and hitting the peninsula as a Category 2 hurricane sometime Wednesday.