Tropical storm forms off western Mexico; no threat to land

MEXICO CITY – Tropical Storm Juliette has formed in the eastern Pacific far off Mexico’s west coast and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Monday, though forecasters say it isn’t likely to pose any threat to land.

At midafternoon Sunday, the storm had top sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph). It was centred about 455 miles (735 kilometres) southwest of the Mexican port of Manzanillo and was moving to the northwest at 13 mph (20 kph).

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Juliette is expected to follow a northwestward course during the week, roughly paralleling Mexico’s Pacific coast well out to sea.