Storm strengthens to Hurricane John off Mexico’s coast

One of two storms off Mexico’s Pacific coast strengthened into a hurricane Monday afternoon, while forecasters said the other was no longer expected to gain hurricane strength and neither posed an immediate threat to land.

Hurricane John was centered about 320 miles southwest of the Mexican port of Manzanillo, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph late in the afternoon. It was moving northwest at 8 mph.

John was expected to strengthen rapidly and become a major hurricane by late Tuesday. It was forecast to peak as a Category 3 hurricane before starting to weaken while staying to the west of the Baja California Peninsula during the week.

Tropical Storm Ileana had been projected to reach hurricane force while marching northwestward parallel to Mexico’s southwestern coast, bringing heavy surf, but forecasters said the storm was no longer expected to strengthen and should dissipate by late Tuesday because of the effects of the larger Hurricane John.

Ileana was closer to shore, centered about 155 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo. It had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was heading northwest at 17 mph.

Mexican officials discontinued a hurricane watch from Punta San Telmo in Michoacan state to Playa Perula in Jalisco state, though Ileana still could cause heavy surf and rains in that area.

Far out to sea, a strengthening Hurricane Hector was in the central Pacific as a strong Category 4 storm, with winds of 155 mph, the Center Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu reported. It was centered about 850 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and was moving west at 16 mph.

Hector also posed no immediate threat to land, but forecasters said people in Hawaii should monitor the storm’s progress as it was projected to pass just south of the islands by midweek.