Hurricane Irwin forms in Pacific Ocean

[October 07, 2011]  MIAMI (AP) -- Forecasters say Irwin has been upgraded to a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean, becoming the eighth hurricane of the Eastern Pacific season.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says early Friday that Irwin had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) and was centered about 910 miles (1,460 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.

It is moving west-northwest at 10 mph (17 kph).

There are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect from the storm.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jova was continuing to gradually strengthen in the Pacific. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was centered about 520 miles (835 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. It was moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph). Jova could become a hurricane by Saturday.

In the Atlantic, Hurricane Philippe was far off the U.S. coast and was not expected to threaten land.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.