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updated 2:04 p.m. ET Aug. 9, 2008

MIAMI - Hurricane Hernan reached Category 3 strength far out to sea, becoming the first major hurricane of the eastern Pacific season.

Hernan's winds on Saturday reached nearly 120 mph, but the system was expected to begin weakening by Sunday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The fifth eastern Pacific hurricane of the season posed no threat to land, center officials said. It was located far off Mexico's western coast, about 1,000 miles west-southwest of the tip of the Baja California peninsula.

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It was expected to continue moving west-northwest and head farther out to sea.