Tropical Storm Carlotta has formed in the eastern Pacific, forecasters say

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Carlotta has formed in the eastern Pacific, but is moving away from Mexico, forecasters said Wednesday.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says in an advisory that a tropical depression was upgraded to the tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph). The system is centered about 345 miles (555 kilometers) southwest of Manzanilla, Mexico, and is moving northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).

Carlotta is forecast to become a hurricane by Thursday evening. Swells generated by the storm are expected to affect the coasts of west-central mainland Mexico and the southern Baja California peninsula beginning Thursday.