Tropical Storm Rick forms off Mexico, quickly gains strength; could be hurricane by Friday

Tropical Storm Rick could be hurricane by Friday

MIAMI — Forecasters say Tropical Storm Rick is quickly gaining strength off Mexico’s western coast, and it could become a hurricane by Friday.

On Thursday night, the storm was centered about 345 miles (555 kilometers) south-southeast of Acapulco.

The storm’s top sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 kph). Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami say the system could strengthen into a hurricane.

The storm is moving to the west-northwest near 9 mph (15 kph).

A five-day track of the storm shows it should stay off Mexico’s coast.