At 2100 GMT, Bud, the second hurricane of the season after Aletta, was packing top sustained winds of 75 miles an hour (120 kilometers per hour) and moving northwest at nine miles per hour (15 kph) the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. 



 "Bud could strengthen rapidly during the next 24 hours or so," the NHC warned. 



 Its churning center was about 255 miles (410 KM) south of Manzanillo Mexico, the center said. 



 Mexico issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the southwestern coast of Mexico from Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes, popular resort areas. 



 A Tropical Storm Watch "means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 24 through 48 hours," the NHC said.</s>Hurricane Bud, now a Category 3 storm with winds of 125 mph, continued to spin off Mexico’s west coast Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said. Earlier Tuesday, it briefly strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane.

The hurricane should weaken to a tropical storm before approaching the resorts of the southern Baja California peninsula.

Beyond that, the remnants of Bud should bring welcome rain to the parched and fire-ravaged Southwest U.S., potentially bringing the first in three months to cities such as Phoenix and Tucson. However, the heavy rain could also lead to flash flooding there.

As of 11 a.m. ET, the hurricane center said Bud was located about 325 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja peninsula and was moving northwest at 6 mph.

Strong waves from Bud caused some coastal damage in Acapulco on Monday.

Forecasters said Bud is moving toward cooler waters and is likely to fall below hurricane strength by Wednesday night before hitting or grazing Cabo San Lucas as a tropical storm late Thursday or early Friday.

The hurricane will churn up the ocean water along the Mexican coast, which could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the hurricane center said.

As rain from Bud falls across the Southwest, the combination of steep, rocky terrain and localized heavy rainfall will raise the risk of isolated flash flooding, AccuWeather warned. Dry stream beds, known as arroyos, can suddenly fill with rushing water.

Forecasters are also watching a weather system in the Caribbean, which the hurricane center gives a 20% chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm within the next five days.

Regardless of development, this disturbance will likely produce locally heavy rainfall across portions of Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and the Yucatan Peninsula through Thursday, the hurricane center said.</s>Hurricane Bud, now a Category 3 storm with winds of 125 mph, continued to spin off Mexico’s west coast Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said. Earlier Tuesday, it briefly strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane.

The hurricane should weaken to a tropical storm before approaching the resorts of the southern Baja California peninsula.

Beyond that, the remnants of Bud should bring welcome rain to the parched and fire-ravaged Southwest U.S., potentially bringing the first in three months to cities such as Phoenix and Tucson. However, the heavy rain could also lead to flash flooding there.

As of 11 a.m. ET, the hurricane center said Bud was located about 325 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja peninsula and was moving northwest at 6 mph.

Strong waves from Bud caused some coastal damage in Acapulco on Monday.

Forecasters said Bud is moving toward cooler waters and is likely to fall below hurricane strength by Wednesday night before hitting or grazing Cabo San Lucas as a tropical storm late Thursday or early Friday.

The hurricane will churn up the ocean water along the Mexican coast, which could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the hurricane center said.

As rain from Bud falls across the Southwest, the combination of steep, rocky terrain and localized heavy rainfall will raise the risk of isolated flash flooding, AccuWeather warned. Dry stream beds, known as arroyos, can suddenly fill with rushing water.

Forecasters are also watching a weather system in the Caribbean, which the hurricane center gives a 20% chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm within the next five days.

Regardless of development, this disturbance will likely produce locally heavy rainfall across portions of Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and the Yucatan Peninsula through Thursday, the hurricane center said.</s>Hurricane Bud forms in Pacific off Mexico's coasts; 2nd hurricane of eastern Pacific season

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Bud forms in Pacific off Mexico's coasts; 2nd hurricane of eastern Pacific season.</s>MEXICO CITY - Hurricane Bud grew to Category 3 force off Mexico's Pacific coast on Monday, but forecasters said it was likely to weaken before a possible brush with the resort-dotted southern tip of the Baja California peninsula late in the week.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Bud had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph Monday morning. It was centered about 235 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and was moving northwest at 10 mph.

Forecasters said Bud was expected to strengthen further before a slow weakening trend starts Tuesday.

"Significantly cooler waters around the southern tip of Baja California should reduce Bud's intensity below hurricane status before it reaches that land," the center said.

The Hurricane Center said the storm could generate swells that cause life-threatening surf and rip currents over the coming days along Mexico's southwestern coast. Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated patches of 10 inches, was possible into Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Aletta's winds were down to 40 mph and it was predicted to dissipate by late Monday or early Tuesday. The storm peaked on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph. It was about 600 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.</s>MEXICO CITY (AP) — Newly formed Hurricane Bud swirled off Mexico’s southwestern coast heading for a possible brush with the southern end of the Baja California peninsula by Thursday or Friday, while former Hurricane Aletta headed out to sea as a tropical storm.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Bud had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph late Sunday. It was centered about 210 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico, and was moving northwest at 10 mph.

Forecasters said Bud was expected to strengthen rapidly over the next 24 hours, but then begin to slowly weaken late Monday or early Tuesday.

The Hurricane Center said the storm could generate swells that cause life-threatening surf and rip currents over the coming days along Mexico’s southwestern coast. Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated patches of 10 inches, was possible into Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Aletta’s winds were down to 45 mph and it was predicted to dissipate by late Monday or early Tuesday. The storm peaked on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph. It was about 585 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.</s>Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon.

More: Lightning-fast facts: How to stay safe during a thunderstorm

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

At 6 a.m., the eye of Hurricane Bud was located near 235 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.

Bud is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph, and this motion is expected to

 continue today and tonight with a decrease in forward speed. A turn toward the north-northwest is expected on Tuesday, and a slow north-northwest motion should continue into mid-week.

On the forecast track, the core of Bud and its stronger winds are expected

 to remain well offshore of the southwestern coast of mainland Mexico

 during the next few days.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph, with higher gusts. Bud is now a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening is possible today, but a slow weakening trend is expected to begin by early Tuesday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

Elsewhere in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Aletta has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. Aletta is forecast to become a remnant low by later today.</s>MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Bud strengthened in the Pacific Ocean west of Mexico on Sunday even as former Hurricane Aletta was fading. Neither immediately threatened land, though Bud was expected to kick up high surf along the Mexican coast and potentially could reach the Los Cabos resort region by Thursday or Friday.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Bud had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) Sunday evening. It was centered about 235 miles (380 kilometers) south of Manzanillo, Mexico, and was moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph).

Forecasters said Bud likely would strengthen rapidly for a day or so, but then begin to weaken late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

The Hurricane Center said the storm could generate swells that cause life-threatening surf and rip currents over the coming days along Mexico's southwestern coast.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Aletta's winds were down to 45 mph (75 kph). It peaked on Friday as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph (220 kph). It was about 575 miles (925 kilometers) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Hurricane Bud formed on Saturday, June 9 around 5 p.m. EDT as Tropical Depression Three-E. By 11 p.m. EDT that day, the storm strengthened into a tropical storm and was named Bud.

Bud formed close enough to southwestern Mexico to trigger a watch. The National Hurricane Center issued a Tropical Storm Watch from Manzanillo to Cabo Corrientes, Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center noted winds, heavy rain and dangerous ocean swells are likely. NHC said on June 11, "Bud is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches across much of southwestern Mexico, with isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches into Tuesday afternoon. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. In addition, ocean swells generated by Bud will continue to affect portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area beginning this afternoon, June 11.

NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP flew over Hurricane Bud at about 4:45 a.m. EDT (0845 UTC) on June 11 and captured a night-time image of the storm. Bud is located east of Tropical Storm Aletta. In the image, city lights from coastal Mexico are visible to the east.

At 9:14 a.m. EDT (1314 UTC) on June 11, NOAA's GOES-West satellite captured an infrared image of Bud. The image showed a well-formed storm with powerful thunderstorms tightly circling the center. However, the image also showed the eye was obscured by high clouds.

NHC's seventh advisory was issued at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC). At that time the eye of Hurricane Bud was located near latitude 16.4 degrees north and longitude 106.5 degrees west. That's about 235 miles (380 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.

Bud is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph (17 kph), and this motion is expected to continue today and tonight with a decrease in forward speed. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph (185 kph) with higher gusts. Bud is now a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening is possible today, but a slow weakening trend is expected to begin by early Tuesday, June 12. The estimated minimum central pressure is 960 millibars.

NHC forecasters noted that on the forecast track, the core of Bud and its stronger winds are expected to remain well offshore of the southwestern coast of mainland Mexico during the next few days.

Explore further: NASA observes the formation of Tropical Storm Aletta</s>MEXICO — Hurricane Bud has reached Category 3 force off Mexico’s Pacific coast, but forecasters say it’s likely to weaken before a possible brush with the resort-dotted southern tip of the Baja California peninsula late in the week.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Bud has maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph). It’s centered about 235 miles (380 kilometers) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and is moving northwest at 10 mph (17 kph).

Forecasters say Bud is expected to strengthen further before a slow weakening trend starts Tuesday.
Hurricane Bud grows into a category three hurricane off the Pacific coast of Mexico.