Tropical Storm Miriam could become hurricane, move near Hawaii

A tropical storm developed in the eastern Pacific Ocean that may be heading west near Hawaii. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Tropical Storm Miriam has formed about 2,000 miles east of the Hawaiian islands.

Miriam was located 1,405 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, a Mexican state on the peninsula of the same name, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 a.m. ET advisory.

It was moving west at 15 mph and was expected to stay on that general course for a few days. Miriam had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was expected become a hurricane by late Monday or early Tuesday, the center said. There are no warnings or coastal watches in effect.

Miriam's formation came in the wake of Hawaii getting hit Friday and Saturday by near-record amounts of rain from Tropical Storm Lane. That storm was a Category 5 hurricane before it weakened considerably as it neared the state. The storm caused damage, mostly on the Big Island, where rivers raged near Hilo and nearly 40 people had to be rescued from homes.

There were no deaths from the storm, which had the potential to cause much more destruction.