MIAMI » Forecasters say Tropical Storm Dolores has gained fresh clout churning over the Pacific off Mexico’s southwest coast and is expected to become a hurricane sometime Monday.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Dolores was centered at 10 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. Hawaii time) Sunday about 215 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico. Top sustained winds had risen to 50 mph as Dolores moves west-northwest at 12 mph.

Forecasters say a strengthening Dolores should reach hurricane status sometime Monday as it tracks roughly parallel to the coast off southwestern Mexico. A tropical storm watch continues from Lazaro Cardenas to Cabo Corrientes.

Forecasters say heavy rains from Dolores are lashing parts of the coast and total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches are expected, more in some areas.