MIAMI, June 8, 2011 (From AFP) - A storm churning in the eastern Pacific strengthened rapidly Wednesday on track to become the season's first hurricane, US meteorologists said as Mexico issued a watch for coastal areas. Tropical Storm Adrian was about 285 miles (455 kilometers) southwest of the Mexican resort town of Acapulco, with maximum winds increasing to 70 miles (95 km) per hour, according to the US-based National Hurricane Center. A storm reaches hurricane status when winds rise to 74 miles (119 km) per hour. "Additional strengthening is likely during the next couple of days, and Adrian could become a hurricane later today," the NHC said in a report. While the storm was moving to the northwest and was expected to gradually turn westward away from land, the Mexican government took the precautionary step of issuing a tropical storm watch for its resort-dotted coast, from Acapulco westward to Punta San Telmo, NHC said.

Cyclone Adrian approaching the coast of Mexico.

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