Hurricane Julio strengthens to category 2: U.S. NHC

Reuters
The U.S. Navy Sea-based X-Band radar leaves Pearl Harbor as two hurricanes approach the Hawaiian islands, in Honolulu, Hawaii, August 6, 2014. REUTERS/Hugh Gentry

(Reuters) - Hurricane Julio, packing maximum sustained winds near 100 miles per hour (155 km/h), with higher gusts, has been upgraded to a Category 2 status, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Thursday. Julio, which was moving west-northwest at about 17 mph (28 km/h), could continue to strengthen on Thursday but was forecast to gradually weaken on Thursday evening and continue into the weekend, the center said. Julio was upgraded on Wednesday from a tropical storm and has been forecast to roll into the island chain of Hawaii as early as Saturday. (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson; Editing by Kevin Liffey)