Hurricane Barbara strengthens into a Category 2 storm off coast of Mexico

July 1 (UPI) -- Hurricane Barbara began strengthening rapidly in the Pacific Ocean on Monday and meteorologists expect it become a major storm as it tracks in the general direction of Hawaii.

In its 8 p.m. PDT update, the National Hurricane Center said the storm had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane. The storm was moving west at 15 mph.

The center of the storm was located about 1,010 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. No weather watches or warnings were in place.

The NHC expects Barbara to head west before making a gradual turn to the west-northwest with a decrease in forward speed. The storm is predicted to become a major hurricane -- Category 3 or higher -- Tuesday morning before weakening Friday.

By Saturday morning, the storm will decrease in power to a tropical storm, well east of Hawaii.