Carlos becomes hurricane in Mexican Pacific

(Adds hurricane status, details, background)

MEXICO CITY, July 11 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Carlos became a hurricane on Saturday off Mexico's Pacific coast but is far out to sea and heading away from land, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

"Carlos becomes the second eastern north Pacific hurricane of the season," the Miami-based center said on Saturday.

Carlos was located about 1,000 miles (1,610 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, with maximum sustained winds of nearly 80 mph (130 kph) and is expected to strengthen over the weekend.

Baja California is home to the popular beach resort of Los Cabos but the area is mainly desert and does not have any oil rigs or refineries.

Last month the first cyclone of the eastern Pacific season Andres pounded western Mexico and swept a fisherman to his death, also flooding streets in the beach resort of Acapulco. (Reporting by Robin Emmott; editing by Todd Eastham)