MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Elida formed Monday off the southwestern coast of Mexico, generating dangerous ocean surf and heavy rains.
Elida was centered Monday afternoon about 120 miles (195 kms) off the coast of Manzanillo, Mexico, said the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph), and was moving northwest at 12 mph (19 kph), parallel to the coast, the center said. The storm was not expected to strengthen much over the next two days, and was forecast to slow down substantially by Tuesday morning. The Hurricane Center said Elida would likely change course and move toward the west-southwest through Wednesday, staying near but off the coast of southwestern Mexico.
A tropical storm warning was in effect Monday from Lazaro Cardenas to Cabo Corrientes.
Elida was expected to dump 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 centimeters) of rain over western portions of the Mexican states of Colima and Michoacan and over the southwest portion of Jalisco, with a maximum of 8 inches (20 centimeters) in some of those areas. The storm also was generating heavy ocean swells that the center said are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.
A second tropical storm, Douglas, was also swirling in the Pacific off the Mexican coast, but did not pose any hazards to land as of Monday afternoon.
Douglas, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) was located about 465 miles (745 kilometers) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California state and was moving northwest at about 9 mph (15 kph). Some strengthening was possible over the next couple of days, the Hurricane Center said.
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