Tropical Storm Simon is deceiving on the radar and the storm currently looks set to head out to sea in the Pacific Ocean. However, meteorologists say it will turn northeast and hit Mexico's Baja California.

Simon formed on Thursday morning about 135 miles off the coast of Manzanillo, Mexico, according to a report from AccuWeather. The storm had maximum sustained winds early Friday, but it is expected to strengthen as it approaches Mexico.

Rain from the storm is expected to hit southwestern Mexico on Friday, especially affecting the states of Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa. Coastal areas are being warned about the potential for rough surf over the weekend.

Meteorologists are predicting Simon will bring between 1 inch and 5 inches of rain over a short span, which could cause flash flooding and mudslides.

"The shower and thunderstorm activity will continue to increase around Cabo San Lucas Friday night through Saturday with locally heavy rain a threat," AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Rob Miller said.

Simon is expected to reach hurricane strength on Saturday, but the heaviest rains and strongest winds are expected to stay offshore, The Associated Press reported. As it approaches Baja California toward the end of the weekend, the storm will weaken back to tropical-storm status.

The storm likely will make landfall in the early part of next week, but could bring heavy rain by Monday.

"Early next week, widespread heavy rain will spread across the central and southern Baja California and into the mainland Mexican states of Sonora and Sinaloa," Miller said. "Wind damage will depend on how much strength Simon has at the time of landfall. Based on the current forecast track, I would expect Simon to produce localized tree limb damage and power outages."

Meteorologists expect Simon to lose much of its steam over mainland Mexico but will continue to monitor the storm as it approaches the U.S.