MEXICO CITY (AP) — The second tropical storm of the eastern Pacific season formed off southern Mexico on Tuesday, though forecasters said it was unlikely to threaten land.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Blas was expected to reach hurricane strength Wednesday before losing force while moving westward into the open ocean.
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) Tuesday night and it was centered about 290 miles (465 kilometers) south-southeast of the Mexican port of Manzanillo. Blas was moving north at 5 mph (7 kph).
The hurricane center said the storm was likely to kick up dangerous surf conditions along the coast.
The season’s first storm, Hurricane Agatha, ran ashore near Puerto Angel in Oaxaca state on May 30 with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph). Authorities said it killed at least nine people, with five others missing suspected to be dead.
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