4,100 flights were canceled for Saturday in Philadelphia, Washington and New York, with airlines essentially shutting down all flights into those cities.
Snowstorm hits the United States
One in seven Americans will get at least half a foot of snow outside their homes.
By midmorning Saturday, the storm had sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) and it was located about 95 miles (155 kilometers) northeast of Zacatecas.
Climate science theory says that as the world warms, the most extreme storms will get even stronger and wetter.
Patricia's maximum sustained winds had increased Thursday to 130 mph (215 kph) - already Category 4 strength - and forecasters said it could grow even stronger before slamming into land.
The storm is located about 1,260 miles (2,030 kilometers) southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
Three wounded by ray in Veracruz
The victims were taken to a local hospital.
The Tropical Depression Five-E was formed on Saturday morning and is currently located about 426 kilometers (265 miles) south-southeast of Acapulco, Mexico.