MIAMI » Tropical storm Orlene has emerged in the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles southwest of Mexico and is rapidly strengthening.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Orlene emerged from a tropical depression early today and is centered about 700 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. The storm has top sustained winds of 65 mph and is moving toward the northwest at 9 mph.

An advisory issued late today says Orlene is rapidly strengthening and is expected to become a hurricane by late Monday. Forecasters say the storm posed no threat to land early today and that no coastal watches or warnings are in effect.