Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Karl strengthened early Friday and could become a major hurricane before making landfall on the Mexican coast in the afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said.
At 2 a.m. ET, Karl's maximum sustained winds were 105 mph (165 kph) -- a 20 mph (32 kph) increase from three hours earlier. The storm was about 95 miles (155 km) east-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, moving west at around 9 mph(15 kph).
"Additional strengthening is expected and Karl could reach the coast as a major hurricane," the hurricane center said.
A storm becomes a major hurricane -- Category 3 or above -- on the Saffir-Simpson scale when it has sustained winds of at least 111 mph (178 kph).
The Category 2 hurricane is expected to make landfall Friday afternoon, but quickly weaken once it enters the Mexican mountains, the hurricane center said.
The government of Mexico has issued a hurricane warning for the eastern coast of Mexico from Veracruz to Cabo Rojo. A hurricane watch is in effect from north of Cabo Rojo to La Cruz.
Karl's storm surge could raise water levels as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal in the area where the center makes landfall, forecasters warned. The surge will likely be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
CNN
