MIAMI (AP) - Hurricane Paula has strengthened into a Category 2 storm with top sustained winds of 100 miles per hour (160 kph) off the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Tuesday that Paula was moving north-northwest at near 10 mph (17 kph).

The storm was about 140 miles (220 km) south-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and its center was forecast to approach the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Honduran emergency officials have been urging coastal residents to evacuate low-lying areas and Mexico issued a hurricane warning as strong winds and rain battered the Caribbean coast.