Hurricane watch issued for southwestern coast of Mexico

A hurricane watch has been issued for the southwestern coast of Mexico after the development late Wednesday of tropical depression Three-E, which at 8 p.m. was located a few hundred miles south of the Mexico-Guatemala border.

The hurricane watch -- meaning hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area -- is in effect from Barra de Tonala westward to Punta Maldonado on Mexico's west coast.

According to the National Hurricane Center, a watch typically is issued 48 hours before the predicted occurrence of hurricane conditions. The weather system was tracking toward the northwest at about 9 mph.

Maximum sustained winds were 35 mph but the disturbance was strengthening. It's expected to attain tropical storm strength by early Thursday, and to reach hurricane strength Friday as it approaches the coast.