Tropical Storm Lane Develops Over Pacific Ocean, Remains Distant From Mexican Coast

A storm system will likely bring heavy rain to the Azores islands over the weekend, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Saturday.

Subtropical Storm Patty is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches (about 2.5 to 5 centimetres) across the archipelago through Sunday. The Hurricane Centre says swells generated by Patty are likely to cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions. Patty is clocking maximum sustained winds of nearly 50 mph (about 80 kph) with higher gusts.

The Azores are an island chain are located about 800 miles (about 1,287 kilometres) off Portugal. Separately, a tropical storm formed over the Pacific Ocean early Saturday but remained far off the coast of Mexico.

Tropical Storm Lane was located about 1,525 miles (2,455 kilometres) west-southwest off the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami reported in an advisory early Saturday.

There were no immediate coastal watches or warnings in effect. The storm is expected to begin weakening on Sunday.