Tropical Storm Carlotta forms in the Pacific south of Mexico, expected to become a hurricane

MIAMI – Tropical Storm Carlotta has formed in the Pacific south of Mexico and is expected to become a hurricane.

Carlotta’s maximum sustained winds increased Thursday morning to near 45 mph (70 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says additional strengthening is forecast and Carlotta is expected to become a hurricane by the time it reaches Mexico’s southern coast on Friday.

A hurricane watch is in effect for Mexico’s Pacific coast from Barra de Tonala to Punta Maldonado.

The tropical storm is centred about 405 miles (650 kilometres) south-southeast of Puerto Angel, Mexico, and 600 miles (965 kilometres) southeast of Acapulco, Mexico. The storm is moving northwest near 10 mph (17 kph).

Tropical storm-force winds are extending outward up to 45 miles (75 kilometres) from the storm’s centre.