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Hurricane Barbara Grows into Major Storm over Open Pacific

Associated Press

   MEXICO CITY - Major Hurricane Barbara rapidly gained strength Tuesday
   morning as it pushed west-northwest over the Pacific Ocean, far from
   land.
   The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Barbara had maximum sustained
   winds of 130 mph (215 kph), with higher gusts, putting it in the range
   of a Category 4 storm.

   The storm's center was about 1,080 miles (1,740 kilometers) southwest
   of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula and it was
   advancing at 14 mph (22 kph).

   The hurricane center forecasts look for the storm to perhaps strengthen
   further, but then weaken starting Wednesday.

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