MIAMI (BNO NEWS) -- Hurricane Karl on Thursday night strengthened into a category two hurricane near the Mexican Gulf coast and could reach the coast as an intense category three hurricane, forecaster said.

As of 10 p.m. CDT (0300 UTC), forecasters at the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said data from an Air Force plane indicate the the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 160 kilometers (100 miles) per hour, and higher gusts.

Karl is located about 185 kilometers (115 miles) east-northeast of the Mexican port of Veracruz and is moving toward the west near 15 kilometers (9 miles) per hour.

A hurricane warning is in effect in Veracruz state from the port of Veracruz to Cabo Rojo, and a hurricane watch is in effect for north of Cabo Rojo to La Cruz.

"On the forecast track, the core of Karl will make landfall on the coast of Mexico within the hurricane warning area late Friday," said the Miami-based center.

The NHC added that hurricane force winds extend outward up to 130 kilometers (15 miles) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 165 kilometers (105 miles).

Besides strong winds, the hurricane is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 12 centimeters (5 inches) to 25 centimeters (10) inches across the central and southern Mexican gulf coast region, with isolated amounts of 38 centimeters (15 inches) possible in the interior mountains.

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