1 storm weakens, another to intensify

Tropical Storm Blas weakened Saturday over cool waters in the eastern Pacific, but a second storm, Celia, was due to become a hurricane today.

At 5 p.m. Hawaii time, Blas was 1,335 miles east of Hilo, packing winds of 40 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving west at about 12 mph.

Blas was expected to become a remnant low — a smattering of clouds around a low-pressure zone — sometime today, the center said.

Meanwhile, behind Blas, Tropical Storm Celia was forecast to become a hurricane today and continue strengthening Monday.

At 5 p.m. Saturday, Celia was 825 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and moving west at 12 mph.

Celia had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, with higher gusts. Category 1 hurricane status starts at 74 mph.