Hurricane Sandra surges to Category 3 storm, threatens to dump rain on Mexico's Pacific coast

Hurricane Sandra on Wednesday quickly strengthened to a Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, threatening to dump rain on resorts along Mexico's Pacific coast in the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend.

Five is the strongest category on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Hurricanes reaching Category 3 will cause devastating damage: well-built frame homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends; many trees will be snapped or uprooted; electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.

Mexico's National Water Commission (Conagua), an agency responsible for hurricane monitoring, said the western states of Colima, Michoacan, Guerrero and Jalisco could see rainfall of 50-75 mm.

Conagua recommended residents remain vigilant to any alerts issued by local authorities.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Sandra "rapidly intensifies to major hurricane strength" since it formed off Mexico's Pacific coast on Tuesday and appeared to be moving northward.

Sandra was located early Wednesday some 880 km southwest of Manzanillo, Colima, and 1,160 km south of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.

Sandra, the strongest hurricane in the eastern Pacific for this late in in the Pacific hurricane season, registered maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour, according to the NHC.

The Pacific hurricane season, which runs from May to the end of November, has produced 18 named storms, 12 of which became hurricanes.

"Additional strengthening is anticipated during the next 12 to 24 hours, but weakening should commence sometime on Thursday or Thursday night," said the NHC.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect, but southern parts of the Baja California Peninsula "should monitor" Sandra's progress, said the NHC, since "tropical storm or hurricane watches may be required for portions of this area" late Wednesday or Thursday. Endi