Priscilla Nears Major Hurricane Strength

MIAMI (AP) — The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Jerry has strengthened in the Atlantic Ocean on a path toward the Caribbean. Jerry has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph Tuesday. It was expected to strengthen into a hurricane in the coming days. Meanwhile, Hurricane Priscilla was near major Category 3 storm status in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico. Its top winds were at 110 mph on Tuesday afternoon, just shy of major hurricane strength. A tropical storm watch is in place for Baja California Sur. Hundreds of miles further out in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Octave was weakening far from the southern tip of Baja California.