Hurricane Hernan forms in Pacific off Mexican coast as it heads out to sea far from mainland

MEXICO CITY – The storm Hernan strengthened into a category 1 hurricane far off Mexico's western coast Sunday as it headed out into the Pacific Ocean and posed little threat to land.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Hernan was about 330 miles (535 kilometers) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula at midafternoon and was moving to the northwest at 15 mph (24 kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), just over the threshold for being a hurricane.

Forecasters said the storm center was expected to pass on Sunday to the southwest of Socorro Island, a part of a volcanic archipelago that is home to a Mexican naval station.

The hurricane center said Hernan likely would begin weakening by Monday and dissipate by Thursday.