Tropical Storm Erick is expected to strengthen into a hurricane Monday

MEXICO CITY — Tropical Storm Erick is churning toward the central Pacific, and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Monday, July 29, forecasters said.

The storm was about 1,410 miles southwest of the tip of Baja California early Sunday, July 28, and there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

"Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts," the National Hurricane Center said. "Strengthening is forecast, and Erick is expected to become a hurricane on Monday with continued strengthening through Tuesday."

CNN meteorologist Robert Shackleford said the storm was tracking west toward Hawaii at 16 miles per hour, and was expected to affect the state around Friday.

While it would most likely approach Hawaii as a tropical storm with weaker winds, it was expected to still bring a lot of rainfall. But it was too far out to determine what the rainfall potential would be, he said.

Another tropical depression formed behind Erick that was likely to become a hurricane in two to three days, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory late Sunday morning. It was forecast to become a tropical storm Sunday.

The tropical depression was off the southern coast of Mexico Sunday morning, moving about 21 miles per hour west-northwest.