Cristina downgraded to tropical storm in Eastern Pacific

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The once-powerful Hurricane Cristina has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continues to churn in waters off the west coast of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The once-powerful Hurricane Cristina has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continues to churn in waters off the west coast of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Cristina on Saturday morning was moving toward the northwest around 6 mph, according to the center. The storm’s maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts.

Additional weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours with Cristina possibly being downgraded to a remnant low on Sunday.

No tropical cyclones are expected to form within the Central North Pacific Basin through late Sunday night, according to forecasters at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center on Oahu. The Central North Pacific Basin is located between 140 degrees west longitude and the International Dateline.

Central Pacific Hurricane Center officials predicted four to seven tropical cyclones this year in the Central North Pacific Basin. Overall, they give this season an 80 percent chance for a normal to above average number of tropical storms to form.

The Central Pacific hurricane season began June 1 and ends Nov. 30.