The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Kristy has rapidly intensified into a major hurricane, and the storm could get close to Category 5 strength as it pulls farther away from the coast of Mexico in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Hurricane Kristy strengthened into a Category 3 storm in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday and was expected to remain away from land as it grows more powerful, forecasters said. The storm was 650 miles southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico,

Forecasters say Kristy has strengthened into a hurricane in the eastern Pacific Ocean and is expected to remain away from land as the storm grows more powerful