Tropical Storm Otis intensifies before reaching Mexico's south coast

Oct 24 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Otis is intensifying and is expected to evolve into a hurricane before it reaches the southern coast of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said early on Tuesday, following the landfall of Hurricane Norma last week.

Otis, generating maximum winds of 65 mph (100 kph), is predicted to grow stronger, NHC said in its latest bulletin. The storm is moving north-northwest towards the peninsula at a speed of 8 mph (13 kph) and may bring hurricane conditions to southern regions of Mexico.

The NHC has warned that heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Otis will start impacting southwestern Mexico from late Tuesday and continue through Wednesday.

Heavy rains could trigger flash floods and mudslides in high altitude areas. Additionally, the NHC predicts a dangerous storm surge could lead to significant coastal flooding near and to the east of where the storm makes landfall.

The Mexican government has issued a Hurricane warning along the southern coast, stretching from Punta Maldonado to Zihuatanejo.

Meanwhile, Norma has now diminished to a remnant low, the NHC said in its last advisory. (Reporting by Natalia Siniawski; Editing by Alison Williams)