The hurricane smashed homes and forced schools to cancel classes in Honduras early Tuesday, then grew into a Category 2 storm with top sustained winds of 100 miles per hour (160 kph) on it way to the Yucatan, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Moving north-northwest at near 10 mph (17 kph), Paula's center was pass just to the east of Cancun on Wednesday morning, and could near Category 3 strength by then, according to the Hurricane Center. It warned that preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. [ YAHOO NEWS ]