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Posted: Tuesday, July 10th, 2012 8:58 AM HST

Hurricane Emilia strengthens to Cat 4 storm

By Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Emilia is moving over the open Pacific as a powerful Category 4 storm but remains far from land. The hurricane's maximum sustained winds Tuesday were near 130 mph (215 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm was expected to begin a gradual weakening Tuesday night. Emilia is centered about 685 miles (1,100 kilometers) south-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California and is moving west-northwest near 10 mph (17 kph). Farther west in the Pacific, Daniel has weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph). Daniel is centered about 1,350 miles (2,175 kilometers) east of Hilo, Hawaii, and is moving west near 16 mph (26 kph).