Sandra becomes Category 3 hurricane in eastern Pacific

MIAMI — Hurricane Sandra has strengthened to a powerful Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast, but there is no current threat to land.

The US National Hurricane Center says it’s the strongest hurricane in the eastern Pacific for this late in the year.

READ: Sandra becomes a hurricane in eastern Pacific off Mexico

The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds increased Wednesday afternoon to near 115 mph (185 kph).

Sandra is centered about 555 miles (895 kilometers) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and is moving northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).

It’s expected to turn to the north-northwest Thursday, and to weaken sometime Thursday or Thursday night.