Hurricane Orlene gained strength to become a Category 3 hurricane early Sunday off Mexico's Pacific coast, where it is expected to hit in the coming days, the National Meteorological Service said.

This satellite image taken at 20:20 UTC and provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Orlene on Saturday, October 1, 2022. (Photo: CFP)

"Orlene has intensified to a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale," causing heavy rains and strong winds, the agency said in a statement.