Lorenzo Strengthens to Hurricane Off Mexico's Gulf Coast

VERACRUZ, Mexico — Lorenzo strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane off Mexico's Gulf Coast Thursday and was expected to make landfall early Friday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Officials issued a storm warning from Palma Sola to Cabo Rojo, canceled classes and set up shelters as steady rain drenched the coastline of Veracruz state. No evacuations were immediately planned, however.

At 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT) Thursday, Lorenzo was centered about 75 miles (125 kilometers) east-southeast of Tuxpan in Veracruz and was moving westward at 6 mph (9 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. It had top sustained winds near 75 mph (120 kph). The storm was forecast to hit land near Tuxpan in six to 12 hours, the center said.