MIAMI — Hurricane Gaston is expected to weaken to a tropical storm in the Atlantic.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the storm’s maximum sustained winds early Thursday are near 75 mph (120 kph) with weakening forecast during the next day or so.

The hurricane is centred about 1,225 miles (1,970 kilometres) east of the Leeward Islands and is moving northwest near 17 mph (28 kph).

Meanwhile in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Lester formed far off Mexico’s coast. The storm’s maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 kph). Additional strengthening is forecast and Lester could become a hurricane in a few days.

Lester is centred about 475 miles (765 kilometres) south-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and is moving west-northwest near 12 mph (19 kph).