Hurricane Trudy strengthens to a Category 3 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast

MIAMI — Hurricane Trudy strengthened to a major, Category 3 hurricane and forecasters said the storm was headed to the southwestern and west-central areas of Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Early Friday, Trudy was about 240 miles (385 kilometers) southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, and about 335 miles (535 kilometers) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph) while moving northwest at 6 mph (9 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Mexico's coast from Cabo Corrientes northward to Punta San Telmo, while a tropical storm warning was issued from Zihuatanejo up the coast to Manzanillo, the center said.

To the northwest of Trudy, Tropical Storm Simon had 75 kph (45 mph winds) and was forecast to weaken to a remnant low soon.

Also in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Champi was east of Guam on Friday, moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph) with maximum sustained winds increasing to 52 mph (86 kph), according to the U.S. Weather Service and the U.S. Navy's Meteorology and Oceanography Command website.

A typhoon warning was issued for Guam and Rota along with a tropical storm warning for Tinian, Saipan and nearby areas.