MIAMI —
Tropical Storm Patricia has formed in the eastern Pacific off the Mexican coast, becoming the 16th tropical storm of the season.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Tuesday night that Patricia is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday night or Thursday.
No coastal warnings or watches are in effect, but the current forecast shows Patricia making landfall in Mexico as a hurricane on Friday.
Patricia is located about 220 miles (355 kms) southeast of Puerto Escondido, Mexico, and about 405 miles (650 kms) southeast of Acapulco, Mexico. It has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and is moving southwest at 5 mph (7 kph).
