Hurricane Paula strengthens to a category two hurricane

October 12th 2010

Paula strengthens to a category two hurricane

Hurricane Paula strengthened into a category two storm in the northwestern Caribbean on early Tuesday afternoon, forecasters said.

In a special bulletin, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said Paula's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 160 kilometers (100 miles) per hour, with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is possible on Tuesday and Wednesday but Paula is not expected to become a major (category 3) hurricane.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Punta Gruesa northward to Cabo Catoche, including Cozumel. Meanwhile, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Chetumal northward to south of Punta Gruesa and from Cabo Catoche to San Felipe.