Tropical Storm Marco closing in on Mexico's coast

Tropical Storm Marco was closing in on Mexico's coast early Tuesday and threatened to hit with near-hurricane strength winds later in the day.

Marco was a small tropical storm with winds extending out only up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

In the Gulf of Mexico, the country's state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, said Monday it had evacuated 33 workers from four offshore platforms, closed six wells and shut down a natural gas processing plant in Veracruz state ahead of Marco's arrival.

A hurricane watch was in effect for Mexico's Gulf Coast from Cabo Rojo south to Veracruz, and a tropical storm warning was in effect for the coast from Cabo Rojo south to Punta El Lagarto.