Tropical Storm Barbara has reached near-hurricane strength off the southwestern coast of Mexico.
Forecasters had said the storm was anticipated to become a hurricane later in the day – the first of the year – before weakening by Tuesday, but would not threaten land.
“There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect,” the National Hurricane Center said.
By early Monday morning, the system was located about 185 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.
The probable path of Barbara’s center is veering to the left over the eastern Pacific Ocean, as it shifts west-northwest near 12 miles per hour.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds are near 70 miles per hour, with some higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force-winds extend outward up to 70 miles from its center.
Barbara’s outer bands were expected to bring between two and four inches of rain to coastal Mexico.
“This rainfall may lead to localized areas of flooding and mudslides,” the center noted.
Swells generated by the tropical storm were also likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip conditions.
Barbara formed early Sunday, becoming the second named storm of the Pacific hurricane season. The first named storm, Alvin, formed in late May. It brought heavy rain to the Southwest.
Forecasters are also watching Cosme, a tropical storm south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja, California.
Cosme is forecast to be near hurricane strength later Monday.
“The system is then expected to weaken quickly late Tuesday through Wednesday,” the center said.
