Sandra becomes Category 3 hurricane in eastern Pacific
Hurricane Sandra continues to strengthen as a powerful Category 3 hurricane off Mexico's Pacific coast, but there is no current threat to land.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center says it's the strongest hurricane in the eastern Pacific for this late in the year.
The hurricane's maximum sustained winds increased Wednesday night to 120 mph (195 kph). The Center says Sandra could grow even stronger later Wednesday, but should begin to lose steam steadily by Thursday night.
Sandra is centered about 550 miles (885 kilometers) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and 645 miles (1,035 kms) south of the southern tip of Baja California.
