Tropical depression forms in Pacific off Mexico; forecasters say could become tropical storm

Tropical depression forms in Pacific near Mexico

MIAMI — Forecasters say a tropical depression has formed in the Pacific off Mexico’s western coast, and it could become a tropical storm.

On Thursday afternoon, the depression was centered about 385 miles (620 kilometers) south-southeast of Acapulco, on the southern tip of the Baja peninsula.

The storm’s top sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 kph). Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami say the system is expected to get stronger and could become a tropical storm late Thursday or on Friday.

The depression is moving to the northwest near 13 mph (24 kph).

The five-day forecast track shows the system staying off the Mexican coast.