Hurricane Karl grew to a powerful Category 3 storm as it bore down on the eastern coast of Mexico on Friday.

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Karl's top sustained winds reached Cateordy 3 status, and the storm could get stronger before making land.

A hurricane warning covered a 200-mile stretch of the eastern Mexican coast in Veracruz state from the port of Veracruz to the oil industry hub of Poza Rica.

The storm was expected to make landfall later Friday morning or early in the afternoon local time.