Tropical Storm Ivo forms in Pacific off Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Sep 19 (Reuters) Tropical Storm Ivo formed in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico and might become a hurricane later this week on its way to the Baja California peninsula, the US National Hurricane Center said today.

Ivo was carrying maximum sustained winds of 91 kph and was more than 724 km southwest of the Mexican mainland.

The storm's wind speeds could pick up in the coming days and make Ivo a hurricane. It is due to curve in toward the coast and hit Baja California early next week, the center said.

Most of the peninsula is sparsely inhabited desert but Baja California is also home to a beach resort, Los Cabos, that is popular with US visitors.

Hurricane Henriette slammed into Los Cabos earlier this month, killing a foreign tourist. Two fishermen also died.

REUTERS SG RK2034