Hurricane Darby now Category 2; could become major hurricane today

Hurricane Darby has strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane. Hurricane Darby could become major hurricane later in the day.

Hurricane Darby formed Thursday in the Pacific off the coast of Mexico, packing winds of around 75 miles per hour. 'Darby is a Category One hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale,' the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said in a statement. 'Some additional strengthening is forecast over the next day or two.'

HO/NOAA/AFP/Newscom

June 25, 2010

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.

IN PICTURES: Notable hurricanes in the past two decades

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