Forecasters: Hurricane Gilma Upgraded to Category 2, Further Strengthening Expected

MEXICO CITY—Gilma intensified into a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon in the eastern Pacific Ocean and is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane by Thursday.

Hurricane Gilma is currently positioned approximately 975 miles (1,570 kilometers) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico, as reported by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Forecasters predict that the hurricane could reach Category 4 status by Thursday afternoon. Presently, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Gilma transitioned from a tropical storm to a hurricane on Sunday and is currently moving west-northwest at a speed of 7 mph (11 kph).

With maximum sustained winds of around 105 mph (165 kph), hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds reach up to 125 miles (205 kilometers) from the center.