Hurricane Paul strengthened as it swept across the Pacific Ocean on Monday toward the beach resort of Cabo San Lucas on Mexico's Baja California peninsula and farming areas on the mainland. The US National Hurricane Centre said the category 2 hurricane was gaining force. It could become a powerful category 3 storm later in the day, capable of blowing down large trees and destroying mobile homes. Paul was located 730 km south of Cabo San Lucas, and was expected to pick up forward speed. Forecasters said Paul would pass near the resort sometime on Wednesday before making landfall on the Mexican mainland. The Mexican government issued a hurricane watch for the southern tip of Baja California, which extends south from the U.S. state of California.
