Hurricane Priscilla strengthens in the Pacific off southwestern Mexico

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MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Priscilla was strengthening late Sunday in the Pacific Ocean with heavy rain and gusty winds threatening coastal areas of southwest Mexico.

Priscilla had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) and was headed north-northwest at 3 mph (6 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The hurricane was about 260 miles (420 kilometers) south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, and about 450 miles (725 kilometers) south-southwest of Baja California.

Heavy rainfall and gusty winds affected coastal southwestern Mexico with flash flooding possible, the center said. Priscilla was generating ocean swells that may cause dangerous surf and rip currents in southwestern and western Mexico and southern Baja California.

A tropical storm watch was issued for part of the coast of southwestern Mexico, from Punta San Telmo to Punta Mita, with tropical storm conditions in the area Sunday and Monday. Rainfall of up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) was possible in areas of the states of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco.

Another storm well off Mexico in the Pacific, Octave, became a hurricane Sunday with no landfall in the forecast and no coastal watches or warnings. Octave's top winds were 85 mph (140 kph) and it was expected to gradually weaken Monday.