Hurricane Eugene Forms in Pacific

Posted August 1st, 2011 at 8:35 pm (UTC-5)
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U.S. weather forecasters say the storm named Eugene has strengthened into the fifth hurricane of this year's eastern Pacific season.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its latest report Monday night that Eugene was about 660 kilometers southwest of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, moving in a west-northwestern direction with 120 kilometer-per-hour winds.

Eugene is expected to strengthen over the next two days. No coastal watches or warnings have been issued.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Emily has formed over the Caribbean Sea, and storm watches or warnings have been issued for several islands.

The hurricane center says Emily was heading in a westerly direction with 65 kilometer-per-hour winds and that it is expected to strengthen gradually over the next 48 hours. Emily is forecast to turn toward the west-northwest. On its current track, the storm is about 565 kilometers southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Forecasters expect the storm to move across the northeastern Caribbean and approach the island of Hispaniola Tuesday night and Wednesday. Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island.