Tropical Storm Blas formed today in the Pacific off southwestern Mexico, but was expected to move away from the coast, Reuters quoted the U.S. National Hurricane Center as reporting. Blas, the second named storm of the Pacific hurricane season, was about 265 miles (425 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, the Miami-based hurricane center said. A ship in the vicinity of the storm reported tropical storm strength winds of 40 mph (65 kph), the NHC said. Blas was expected to move east-northeast at 2 mph (4 kph) before shifting course to move west-northwest by Friday, which would take it away from the Mexican coast.
