Hurricane Darby strengthens to a Category 2 storm in the Pacific

Hurricane Darby becomes a Category 2 storm

MIAMI — Hurricane Darby has strengthened to a Category 2 storm in the Pacific off Mexico’s coast.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Darby’s maximum sustained winds early Friday are near 105 mph (165 kph) and the storm could become a major hurricane later in the day.

The hurricane is located about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. It’s heading west-northwest near 7 mph (11 kph).

Meanwhile, the powerful Hurricane Celia continues churning farther out in the Pacific. The Category 5 hurricane has maximum sustained winds near 160 mph (260 kph). But the hurricane center says Celia is approaching cooler waters and is expected to weaken over the next two days.

Neither hurricane poses an immediate threat to land.