Hurricane Patricia, the Strongest Storm in Recorded History, Will Hit Mexico on Friday

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The 200-mph Hurricane Patricia is the strongest storm the world has ever seen, at least since we started recording these things, and it will make landfall on the western side of Mexico Friday afternoon, the Weather Channel reports.

The Category 5 hurricane could put 4 million Mexico residents in danger, according to NBC News, potentially bringing four-story waves and up to 20 inches of accumulated rainfall in some areas of the country's southwestern region. Katrina was Category 5 but its winds only reached 174 mph, for reference.

"Residents in low-lying areas near the coast in the hurricane warning area should evacuate immediately," the US National Hurricane Center advised.

The Mexican government has set up 1,780 shelters in preparation for Hurricane Patricia, and residents have begun building barriers near the coastline to hopefully manage the surge of water.