Hurricane Cristina strengthens to Category 4 storm off Mexico coast

Hurricane Cristina has rapidly strengthened to a major Category 4 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast. The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds increased to near 145 mph Thursday morning. The hurricane reached Category 4 strength just hours after becoming a Category 3 storm. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says some additional strengthening is possible during the day but weakening is expected to begin Thursday night.
Cristina is centered about 250 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and is moving west-northwest near 8 mph.