MEXICO CITY — Gilma strengthened to a powerful Category 3 hurricane Thursday in the eastern Pacific and was expected to remain a powerful hurricane in the coming days while staying away from land.
The storm was located about 1,025 miles (1,649 kilometers) west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Maximum sustained winds were near 115 mph (185 kmph).
More strengthening was possible on Thursday, forecasters said. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Gilma had it strengthened to tropical storm status on Sunday and has become more powerful since then.
Gilma was moving west-northwest at 6 mph (9 km/h). Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 kilometers).