Hurricane Sandra upgraded to Category 3, gathers force fast in Pacific

National Hurricane Center in Miami said Hurricane Sandra was expected to weaken before nearing land.

Miami: Hurricane Sandra became the strongest storm on record for this late in the Pacific hurricane season after it surged to Category 3 off the coast of Mexico on Wednesday.

The storm has rapidly grown since it formed Tuesday, but the National Hurricane Center in Miami said it was expected to weaken before nearing land.

At 2100 GMT, the storm was packing 115 mile (185 kilometer) an hour winds and moving northwest towards Mexico.

Given its location about 555 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, the NHC advised residents of the Mexican state of Baja California to monitor its progress.

"Additional strengthening is anticipated during the next 12 to 24 hours, but weakening should commence sometime on Thursday or Thursday night," the NHC added.