Tropical Storm Kiko To Become Hurricane

Saturday, October 20th 2007, 5:45 pm

By: News On 6

MEXICO CITY (AP) _ Tropical Storm Kiko strengthened off Mexico's Pacific coastline and forecasters warned that the storm's outer bands could kick up strong waves, winds and rains on land.

Kiko was expected to become a hurricane by late Saturday, although forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm's eye would likely move northwest, parallel to Mexico's Pacific coast and well offshore, before heading out to sea.

At 5 p.m. EDT, the storm had maximum sustained winds near 70 mph and was inching northwest at 6 mph. The storm was 175 miles west of the port of Manzanillo.

Authorities in Jalisco state on the Pacific coast of central Mexico broadcast radio messages advising people to closely monitor the storm's progress and stay away from areas that easily flood.