Newton now is a hurricane

MIAMI -- The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Newton has strengthened into a hurricane.

Newton formed off Mexico's Pacific coast and is headed toward Baja California.

Newton was located about 215 miles southeast of Cabo San Lucas on Monday evening. The storm was moving northwest at 16 mph with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.

Forecasters expect Newton to continue moving in the same general direction with an increase in forward speed into today.

The center of Newton is expected to be near or over the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula this morning, by which time it could be near hurricane intensity.

The government of Mexico has issued a Hurricane Warning for the west coast of the Baja California Sur from north of Puerto Cortes to Cabo San Lazaro.

Coastal portions of five Mexican states could see 5 to 10 inches of rain, with isolated maximums of 15 inches.