Hurricane Jimena formed in the eastern Pacific near the Mexican resort of Acapulco today, and the US National Hurricane Center said the storm could become a major hurricane by Sunday.
Jimena was located about 285 miles (455 km) southwest of Acapulco, packing winds of around 80 mph (130 kmh), and was moving west-northwest, roughly in parallel with the coastline.
It was the second hurricane of the 2009 eastern Pacific season to brush close to Mexico after Andres pounded the same area in June, flooding Acapulco and sweeping a fisherman to his death. Acapulco, one of many resorts dotted along Mexico's Pacific coast, is popular with Mexican and foreign tourists.
Hurricane Carlos formed in the Mexican Pacific in July but was too far out to sea to pose a threat.
As of Saturday morning, hurricane force winds extended outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from Jimena's center and the NHC said further strengthening was likely.
Mexico has no oil installations in the Pacific and for the time being the oil exporting port of Salina Cruz and other ports in the area remained open.
The NHC reported another tropical depression far out in the Pacific, some 1,010 miles (1,625 km) southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. The depression, which was forecast to strengthen, was moving toward the northwest.
Reuters