Tropical Storm Pilar pelts Mexico coast near Puerto Vallarta

MEXICO CITY: Tropical Storm Pilar pelted the coast of western Mexico with heavy rains and winds Sunday as it moved through the Pacific just west of the resort city of Puerto Vallarta.

Pilar had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) in early evening and its center was about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of Las Islas Marias. The storm was moving north at about 8 mph (13 kph).

The storm was projected to closely hug the coast for the next few days and lose strength. Tropical storm force winds extended out as far as 60 miles (95 kilometers).

The US National Hurricane Center said Pilar was likely to bring 3 to 7 inches (7.5 to 17.5 centimeters) of rain to the coastal region.

Meanwhile, two hurricanes were lurking in the Atlantic without posing an immediate major threat to land.

Hurricane Maria, which walloped Puerto Rico as a Category 4 hurricane last week, was a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph). It was moving north at 9 mph (15 kph) and was predicted to cause heavy surf and swells on the Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic coasts.

It was centered about 410 miles (660 kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Farther out at sea, Hurricane Lee had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph). It was about 890 miles (1,430 kilometers) east of Bermuda and was moving to the southeast at 3 mph (6 kph). It was projected to move in a rough circle over the coming days.