Tropical storms off Mexico’s coast are gaining force and ‘could become hurricanes’, forecasters warn

Two tropical storms off Mexico’s coast are gaining force and “could become hurricanes”, forecasters warn.

Both storms, named Storm John and Storm Ileana, are projected to reach hurricane force while travelling parallel to the coast.

According to the US National Hurricane Centre, Tropical Storm John was expected to strengthen rapidly and become a hurricane by Monday.

By Tuesday, forecasters have warned it could become a major hurricane.

Storm John was centred about 335 miles southwest of the Mexican port of Manzanillo on Monday, with maximum sustained winds of 60mph.

It was forecast to peak as a Category 3 storm before starting to weaken, while staying to the west of the Baja California Peninsula during the week.

Storm Ileana was forecasted as being closer to the shore and had so far sustained maximum sustained winds of 65mph.

Ileana had a potential to brush Mexico's southwestern shoulder as a hurricane along the coastal area near Manzanillo early Tuesday, with the possibility for heavy rains and flash flooding.

Authorities posted a hurricane watch from Punta San Telmo in Michoacan state to Playa Perula in Jalisco state.

Ileana was projected to weaken later on Tuesday because of its closeness to John, the larger storm.

Additional reporting from Press Association