Tropical Storm Gil forms in eastern Pacific and isn’t expected to threaten land as it strengthens

Forecasters say Tropical Storm Gil has formed in the eastern Pacific Ocean and isn’t expected to threaten land as it strengthens. The Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center says the storm is forecast to remain over open water and become a hurricane on Friday. It’s about 785 miles south-southwest of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico. Gil has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving west at 15 mph. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect. The storm is expected to turn to the west-northwest in the coming days. Tropical Storm Iona also is churning westward in the eastern Pacific.