Tropical storm Patricia strengthens in Pacific hundreds of miles off Mexico’s Baja California

Tropical storm in Pacific strengthens off Mexico

LOS CABOS, Mexico — Tropical Storm Patricia strengthened Monday as it inched closer to the tip of Baja California, prompting Mexico’s government to issue a tropical storm watch for the resort-dotted southern part of the peninsula.

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Patricia’s center was about 180 miles (290 kilometers) south of the southern tip of Baja California late Monday.

Patricia was moving north at about 6 mph (9 kph), with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph). Some strengthening was expected over the next 24 hours, and the storm could be very near the peninsula by Tuesday afternoon, the center said.

Patricia became a named tropical storm late Sunday.

Tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 90 miles (150 kilometers) from the center. The Mexican government issued a tropical storm watch — meaning tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area — from La Paz to Santa Fe in Baja California Sur state.

The port of Cabo San Lucas was closed to small craft. Mayor Rene Nunez said officials were evaluating whether to evacuate families in low-lying areas.