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Pacific storm Dora nears hurricane strength

by Reuters
Tuesday, 19 July 2011 15:22 GMT

* Dora may brush tip of Baja California by weekend

* Rains expected on Mexican Pacific coast

MEXICO CITY, July 19 (Reuters) - Tropical storm Dora was near to becoming a hurricane on Tuesday off the coast of Mexico, threatening rains on some Pacific resorts like Acapulco.

Dora, the fourth named storm of the Pacific hurricane season, packed sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph), but was not expected to hit the mainland. There is a chance it will brush the tip of the Baja California peninsula by early on Sunday.

There are no coastal warnings in effect, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

"Swells generated by Dora are expected to begin affecting the coast of southern mainland Mexico later today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions," the Miami-based center said.

Dora moved toward the west-northwest near 15 mph (24 kph) and its center was located about 265 miles (425 km) south of Puerto Angel, in the state of Oaxaca.

Mexico's Pacific coastline does not have any major oil installations and all ports remain open for navigation.

(Reporting by Cyntia Barrera Diaz; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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