'John' forms in eastern Pacific

MIAMI (AP):

Tropical Storm John has formed in the eastern Pacific near the Mexican island of Socorro but far from the mainland.

The United States National Hurricane Centre in Miami said the storm formed early yesterday morning near Socorro, part of an island chain about 300 miles (480 kph) south-southwest of the tip of Baja California peninsula.

The storm is forecast to stay at sea and head northwest. It had top sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) with little change in strength expected in the next 48 hours.

In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Leslie was moving north-northwest over open ocean on a track that could take it closer to Bermuda by Saturday. The storm was causing potentially dangerous surf in parts of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.