Tropical depression, 1st of season, heading toward Mexico’s Pacific coast

Tropical depression heads toward Mexico coast

MEXICO CITY — Mexico has lifted some tropical storm warnings Friday as the first tropical depression of the Pacific hurricane season became less clearly organized as it neared land.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the depression was centered about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south-southwest of the coastal city of Mazatlan at 2 p.m. PDT (5 p.m. EDT; 2100 GMT).

Maximum sustained winds remain near 35 mph (55 kph). Forecasters say the depression was likely to dissipate after touching the Pacific coast late Friday.

The depression was moving toward the north at about 9 mph (15 kph).

Mexican authorities lifted a tropical storm warning for the Islas Marias, a group of islands housing a prison facility about 85 miles (135 kilometers) off the Pacific coast, and were expected to end the tropical storm watch for the Pacific coast from Topolobampo south to El Roblito.