VERACRUZ, Mexico — Hurricane Karl grew with surprising speed into a powerful Category 3 storm today with forecasters saying it could strengthen further as it roars toward ports and oil installations on Mexico's Gulf Coast.

Karl's maximum sustained winds reached near 120 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. Some additional strengthening was possible before the hurricane made landfall, the hurricane center said.

The Mexican government issued a hurricane warning for a 186-mile stretch of coast in Veracruz state, stretching northward from the city of the same name. On its predicted path, Karl could make landfall between the port of Veracruz and the oil hub of Poza Rica.

Poza Rica, while slightly inland, houses important pipelines and natural gas- and oil-processing plants operated by the state-owned oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos. Pemex said it had no immediate plans to halt production at the plants because of the storm.

Authorities in Veracruz state — whose southern half has suffered severe flooding over the past few weeks — braced for a hit on its northern coast, preparing sleeping mats, bottled water and other supplies for anyone taking refuge in shelters. Workers in Veracruz city cut dangerous tree limbs that could become flying debris.

About 80,000 people have had their homes damaged and nine people have been killed in flooding from heavy rains in southern Veracruz since Aug. 19.