Mexico CITYcTypeface:> The first hurricane of the season has formed off Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Travelling at wind speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour, the storm - named Barbara - moved parallel to the coast in a north-westerly direction on Monday.
The US hurricane centre warned of storm surges in the south-west of Mexico and heavy rainfall in the states of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco.
If Barbara stays on its course, it could make landfall on the Baja California peninsula.
Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters.
According to experts, increasing global warming increases the likelihood of strong storms.
The season begins in the Pacific on May 15 and in the Atlantic on June 1. It officially lasts until November 30 in both regions. (DPA)
