Hurricane Kiko intensifies to a Category 4 in the Pacific Ocean, forecasters say

MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Kiko intensified into a major hurricane on Wednesday, becoming a Category 4 cyclone in the Pacific Ocean, forecasters said.

Kiko had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph), according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. It was centered about 1,600 miles (2,580 kilometers) east of Hilo, Hawaii, and was traveling west at 9 mph (15 kph).

Forecasters said Kiko could get even stronger in the next day or so, but that its intensity was likely to fluctuate.

There were no watches or warnings associated with Kiko and no hazards affecting land.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Lorena was intensifying Wednesday off the coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and a tropical storm warning was expanded