hurricane franklin

Franklin gaining strength as it approaches second landfall in Mexico

A strengthening Tropical Storm Franklin took aim at Mexico’s central Gulf coast after a relatively mild run across the Yucatan Peninsula, with forecasts saying it would grow into a hurricane before making its second landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Franklin began gaining strength after getting over open water again, with its maximum sustained winds quickly rising to 70 mph (110 kph) by Wednesday morning, early Wednesday. The storm was expected to gain more power as it moved across the lower reaches of the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Franklin’s center was . . .