In brief
Priscilla is moving northwest with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, prompting watches along the southwestern coast of Mexico. Rainfall of up to 6 inches is expected, along with life-threatening surf conditions. Another storm, Octave, remains distant and poses no threat to land.
MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Priscilla was strengthening slowly in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico early Sunday. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center reported that Priscilla was a “large tropical storm,” with tropical storm-force winds extending as far as 140 miles (220 kilometers) from its center. Its maximum sustained winds were noted to be 65 mph (100 kph), positioning it about 305 miles (495 kilometers) south-southwest of Cabo Corientes and moving northwest at 5 mph (7 kph). A tropical storm watch has been issued for part of the southwestern Mexican coast, from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita, where conditions could become severe on Sunday and Monday. Rainfall amounts could reach 6 inches (15 centimeters), along with a risk of hazardous surf and rip currents. The storm is expected to reach hurricane status by Sunday night or early Monday, continuing a parallel path along the coast in the following days. In contrast, another system in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Octave, is situated far from shore, with maximum sustained winds at 70 mph (110 kph) and no forecasts indicating landfall or coastal warnings.
