Tropical depression strengthens into Storm Fausto off Baja California

Forecast to become hurricane by Monday night

Tropical Storm Fausto formed Sunday afternoon far out to sea off Mexico’s southwest Pacific coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. A tropical depression strengthened into the named storm, the center reported.

The storm was centered about 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) south-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 13 mph (20 kph), the National Hurricane Center said.

No coastal warnings or watches are in effect, according to the hurricane center. The center said steady to rapid strengthening is expected over the coming days and forecast Fausto to become a hurricane by Monday night.