This image obtained from NASA shows Tropical Storm Olaf (C) in the eastern Pacific far from land and could become a hurricane on October 18, 2015, US forecasters said. (AFP)
Tropical Storm Olaf has formed in the eastern Pacific far from land and could become a hurricane on Sunday, US forecasters said.
At 2100 GMT Saturday the storm was located about 1,660 miles (2,670 kilometers) southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.
The storm was moving west at nearly 13 miles (20 kilometers) an hour. Forecasters expect the storm to decrease its forward speed overnight, and then take a northwestern turn on Sunday.
Olaf is packing maximum sustained winds of 60 miles (95 kilometers) per hour, and it has not sparked any coastal watches or warnings.
However "additional strengthening is forecast, and Olaf is expected to become a hurricane by Sunday, and be near major hurricane strength by Monday," the NHC said.