Patricia Threatens Mexican and Californian Resorts

   Late Sunday Patricia, inching closer to the tip of the Baja California Peninsular, was recognised as a new tropical storm, causing the government to set up a storm watch for the resort part of the peneinsular on Monday as it was strenthening on. 

Photo: Patricia Threatens Mexican and Californian Resorts

  According to the U.S. National Miami Hurricane Center experts Patricia's center was located about 265 miles (425 kilometers) south of the southern tip of Baja California Monday morning.

  Patricia was moving toward the north-northwest at about 8 mph (13 kph) and maximum sustained winds registered were near 45 mph (75 kph). The storm was still disorganized but was expected to continue strengthening over the next 24 hours and be very near the peninsula by Tuesday afternoon, the center reported.

  Tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 70 miles 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 Associated Press contributed to the report.