Norma nears Mexico as Jose threatens US

MEXICO CITY — Hurricane season roared on Saturday as Jose threatened heavy surf along the U.S. East Coast, Tropical Storm Norma edged toward Mexico’s resort-studded Baja California, and Tropical Storm Maria formed in the Atlantic and was expected to strengthen into a hurricane, taking aim at some already-battered Caribbean islands.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Lee formed in the eastern Atlantic with sustained winds of 40 mph. The storm was about 720 miles westsouthwest of the Cape Verde Islands and posed no immediate threat to land.

And to the west, Tropical Storm Maria formed and is expected to strengthen, prompting hurricane watches for Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, and Montserrat — some of which were devastated by Hurricane Irma.

In the Atlantic, Hurricane Jose was far from land but generating powerful swells that the center said were affecting Bermuda, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the southeastern U.S.