Tropical Storm Douglas forms off Mexico

Tropical Storm Douglas formed off Mexico's west coast on Wednesday and as with two other recent storms this eastern Pacific season, it was not expected to hit land.

Douglas was located about 290 miles (465 kilometers) south of Cabo San Lucas, on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

Douglas had winds of about 40 mph (65 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, which said the storm could dump heavy rains between Lazaro Cardenas and Puerto Vallarta, on the mainland Pacific coast.

Baja California will also get some rough weather and people there should watch out for any change in course, said James Franklin, senior hurricane specialist with the center.

"Right now we are not forecasting it to hit land but there is always uncertainty," Franklin said. "We couldn't rule out at this point some impact in the southern Baja Peninsula."

The storm was moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). Forecasters described the storm as poorly organized and said it might strengthen slightly before moving over cooler waters and weakening out at sea.

Meanwhile, former hurricane Boris lost force far out in the Pacific and declined to tropical storm status. Boris' winds fell to about 60 mph (95 kph), and were expected to weaken further.

Tropical Storm Cristina dissipated without reaching land at the end of June.

The first tropical storm of the eastern Pacific season, Alma, hit Nicaragua's northwest corner.

With predictions of a very active storm season one would do well to keep abreast of them.

For those on the East coast:

A tropical depression has formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. But some strengthening was forecast and the National Hurricane Center said early Thursday that the depression could become a tropical storm later in the day.

The storm is located about 250 miles south-southeast of the Cape Verde Islands.

The depression is moving toward the west-northwest at about 9 mph, and forecasters are expecting that to continue with some increase in speed over the next couple days.