Tropical Storm Lorena formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Tuesday morning off the southwest coast of Mexico , and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) says Tropical Storm Watches could be issued later Tuesday for portions of the Baja California Peninsula.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, some of the tropical moisture from Lorena could enhance the seasonal monsoon weather pattern across the Southwest U.S., with heavy rain beginning late Thursday or early Friday.

Tropical Storm Lorena is currently about 240 miles west of Manzanillo, Mexico.

The NHC said that Tropical Depression Twelve-E strengthened into Tropical Storm Lorena Tuesday morning when sustained winds reached 45 mph, officially designating it as a tropical storm .

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