Tropical Storm John forms in the Pacific and may cause flooding in southern Mexico

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm John has formed in the eastern Pacific Ocean and may bring flooding to southern Mexico later in the week. U.S. forecasters said the storm had 40 mph winds early Monday and was about 150 miles south of Punta Maldonado, Mexico. The Mexican government issued a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning for Mexico’s coast from Punta Maldonado to Bahias de Huatulco. A watch means tropical storm conditions are possible in that area within 48 hours. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said John was nearly stationary but was likely to move closer to the southern Mexico coast Tuesday and Wednesday. Torrential rainfall is forecast in coastal Chiapas and near the Oaxaca coast to southeast Guerrero.