'Hurricane Adrian' Becomes First Hurricane of the Season in the Eastern Pacific

This infrared image of Tropical Storm Adrian was taken from the GOES-11 satellite on June 8 at 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) and shows a compact, rounded storm off the western Mexico coast. The image reveals that Adrian has some higher, stronger thunderstorms in the center that are casting shadows on lower clouds around them. (NASA/NOAA GOES Project, Dennis Chesters)

ACAPULCO, Mexico – Hurricane Adrian formed in the eastern Pacific on Wednesday, making it the first of the 2011 season.

As a precaution, the Mexican government issued a tropical storm watch for the Pacific coast from northwest to Punta San Telmo. But officials discontinued the watch a few hours later.

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm's center was expected to remain offshore, although a shift could bring tropical storm conditions to the coast.

The Guerrero state government said thunderstorms and hail might hit about 20 coastal towns, where about 2 million people live.

Late Wednesday, Adrian's maximum sustained winds were about 80 mph (130 kph) and it was expected to get stronger.

The center of the storm was about 275 miles (440 kilometers) south of the beach resort of Zihuatenjo and moving northwest near 8 mph (13 kph).