Hurricane to blast Mexico

HURRICANE Bud has strengthened in the Pacific Ocean west of Mexico as former Hurricane Aletta was fading.

Bud is expected to kick up high surf along the Mexican coast and could reach the Los Cabos resort region by Thursday or Friday.

The US National Hurricane Centre said Bud had maximum sustained winds of 130km/h. It was centred south of Manzanillo, Mexico.

Forecasters said Bud would probably strengthen rapidly for a day or so before beginning to weaken.