The first tropical storm of the eastern Pacific season was nearing hurricane force far off the coast of Mexico on Thursday, but it was moving out to sea and forecasters said it’s no threat to land.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Aletta was centered about 435 miles (700 kilometers) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and it had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 6 mph (9 kph).
The center said Aletta was likely to reach hurricane force of 74 mph (119 kph) later Thursday.
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To the east of Aletta, another area of low pressure, a tropical wave, is given high odds by the NHC to develop into at least a tropical depression this weekend south of the Mexican Riviera.
It’s too soon to determine whether this second system will eventually pose a direct threat to parts of the Mexican Pacific coast next week.
For now, interests along the Mexican coast from Acapulco to Zihuatanejo, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos should monitor the progress of this second system into next week.
