Hurricane Simon strengthens to a Category 2 storm, the National Hurricane Center says

MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Simon has strengthened to a Category 2 storm and was forecast to approach Mexico's coast as a major hurricane this weekend, the National Hurricane Center said Friday.The center said maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 100 mph (155 kph), and that Simon is expected to continue strengthening rapidly during the next day or so. Simon is forecast to become a major hurricane by late Friday and strengthen further on Saturday.U.S. forecasters earlier issued a hurricane warning for parts of the central and southwest coast, where hurricane-force winds were expected within 36 hours.Simon is expected to bring heavy rainfall over parts of southwestern Mexico, with rain possibly concentrated across the coast of Jalisco and parts of Michoacan, Colima and Nayarit. Forecasters warned of life-threatening flooding and mudslides.Simon was centered about 335 kilometers (210 miles) south of Manzanillo and 500 kilometers (310 miles) south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes.The st