Hurricane Fernanda strengthens in Pacific; no threat to land

MEXICO CITY – Hurricane Fernanda has gained strength in the Pacific off Mexico’s western coast, though forecasters say it poses no threat to land for now as it moves farther out to sea.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Fernanda is likely to be a major hurricane on Friday.

The storm was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph) Thursday night. It was centred about 945 miles (1,520 kilometres) south-southwest of the tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and was moving to the west at 12 mph (19 kph).