Tropical Storm Marie strengthens in the Pacific and could become a hurricane

Tropical Storm Marie continued to strengthen over the eastern Pacific and could become a hurricane, Mexico’s National Meteorological Service said.

At 9 a.m. local time, the storm’s center was 670 kilometers south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur. Marie had maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour, gusts of up to 140 kilometers per hour and was moving northwest at 15 kilometers per hour.

The meteorological service said Marie could intensify into a hurricane during the day. Its broad circulation was expected to increase the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rain in Baja California Sur and western Mexico.

Mexico’s National Civil Protection Coordination urged people in the affected states to take precautions because of rain, wind and high waves, including at sea. The forecast said Marie could become a Category 1 or 2 hurricane on Wednesday and reach Category 2 by Thursday afternoon.

The projected track was taking the storm away from Mexico’s coastline, passing south or southwest of Cabo San Lázaro and Punta Abreojos in Baja California Sur. Separately, low-pressure channels and tropical waves were expected to bring showers to several other parts of the country.