MEXICO CITY, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Julio churned over the Pacific ocean on Sunday, moving closer to the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The storm, carrying winds of 40 mph (65 kph), was 85 miles (130 km) south of Baja California and was expected to hit land later on Sunday.

The center of Julio, the 10th named storm of the Pacific hurricane system, is forecast to pass near the popular tourist resort of Los Cabos, likely dumping heavy rains.

Mexico's government maintained its tropical storm warning for Baja California coastline, just below the U.S. border.

The Miami-based hurricane center said Julio was unlikely to reach the northern town of Ensenada where the Sempra liquefied natural gas terminal is scheduled to open next week.

The storm is traveling northwest about 14 mph (22 kph), the hurricane center said and could dump up to 6 inches (15 cm) of rains in certain areas.

(Reporting by Mica Rosenberg, Editing by Sandra Maler)

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