MEXICO CITY, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Jova strengthened to a majorhurricane on Monday and forecasters warned it was likely to pick upspeed as it neared Mexico's Pacific coast.

With top winds reaching 120 miles per hour (195 kph), Jova nowis a Category 3 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale ofintensity. It is expected to make landfall near the resort town ofMelaque, on a stretch of coast dotted with fine beaches, late onTuesday.

Near midday, Jova was about 255 miles (405 km) southwest of thebusy port city of Manzanillo, the Miami-based National HurricaneCentersaid.

Mexico has issued a hurricane warning for 200 miles (320km) ofcoastline stretching south from Cabo Corrientes below PuertoVallarta in Jalisco state and the port of Manzanillo, which movesaround 150 barges a month, was closed.

Hurricane-force winds were possible within the warning area byTuesday afternoon. The storm was moving east at about 6 mph (9 kph)and was expected to turn toward the northeast on Monday night, theNHC said.

Forecasters expect Jova to strengthen during the next 48 hoursand it could become a category four hurricane later on Monday, thecenter said.

Rainfall of up to 15 inches (38 cm) is possible in parts of thestates of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco, possibly causinglife-threatening flash floods andmudslides.

“A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significantcoastal flooding near and to the east of where the center makeslandfall,” the latest hurricane advisory said.

Mexico has no oil installations in the Pacific.