Tropical Storm Arlene forms in Gulf; not likely to threaten U.S.

Forecasters say Tropical Storm Arlene has formed in the Gulf of Mexico but is not likely to threaten the U.S. coast.

The government of Mexico on Tuesday issued Tropical Storm warnings for the northeastern coast from Barra De Nautla north to Bahia Algodones. The storm is predicted to hug much of the coast over the next few days.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Arlene is about 280 miles east-southeast of Tampico, Mexico. The center had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. It is the first named storm in the Atlantic this season.
 
The main threat to Mexico is heavy rains that could cause flash floods and mudslides. Forecasters say extreme south Texas also could get some rain from the system.

'Low' chance system off Mexican Gulf coast goes tropical

The National Weather Service is keeping an eye on "a broad area of low pressure" over the Bay of Campeche off the Mexican Gulf coast.

Currently, there is only a 20 percent chance of the system going tropical within the next 48 hours, but upper-level winds "are forecast to become more favorable over the next couple of days," the Weather Service said in a bulletin Monday morning.

Regardless of how it develops, the system was expected to bring locally heavy rains and gusty winds to portions of eastern Mexico and Central America during the next day or two as it moves slowly to the west-northwest.

Beatriz reaches hurricane strength off Mexico's Pacific coast

 ARTURO PEREZ
Associated Press
The National Weather Service says Tropical Storm Beatriz has reached hurricane strength, as its heavy rains and strong winds have begun pounding resort beaches on Mexico's Pacific coast.

Authorities closed the popular tourist ports of Acapulco and Manzanillo ahead of the hurricane's arrival.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Beatriz had sustained winds of about 75 miles per hour (121 kph) and is expected to brush over Mexico's southwestern coast before heading back out to sea.

Beatriz is located about 85 miles (140 kms) southeast of Manzanillo and moving northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).

Tropical storm forms off Pacific coast of Mexico

 MIAMI (AP) -- Forecasters say Tropical Storm Beatriz is strengthening off the coast of Mexico in the Pacific Ocean and could become a hurricane by late Monday.

The National Hurricane Center said Sunday evening that rain bands have started hitting the coast. The storm is about 195 miles (315 kilometers) south of Zihuatanejo. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).

 A hurricane warning is in effect from Zihuatanejo to Manzanillo. A hurricane watch has been issued from Manzanillo west to La Fortuna. A tropical storm warning is in effect for other parts of the Mexican coast.

The center of Beatriz is expected to approach the coast by late Monday or early Tuesday when it could be a hurricane.

Adrian hits Cat. 4

The latest at 6:30 p.m. from the National Hurricane Center on Hurricane Adrian in Pacific: Its winds are now at 130 mph, Category 4 strength. The good news: It is forecast -- for now -- to stay offshore.

Get the latest from NHC here.
 

Adrian becomes major hurricane in the Pacific

Hurricane Adrian is strengthening off the Pacific coast of Mexico and is now a major hurricane.

Forecasters say maximum sustained winds for the first hurricane of the 2011 season increased Thursday to about 115 mph (185 kph).

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami predicts that the storm's center will stay well offshore.

Hurricane Center: 40 percent chance Caribbean system has a name by Wednesday

The National Hurricane Center reported there is a 40 percent chance that a "disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms" in the western Caribbean Sea will develop into a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours.

As of 8 a.m. EDT, an area of low pressure was located about 130 miles south of Grand Cayman and remained separated from the strongest thunderstorm activity.

Regardless of how the system develops, the Hurricane Center said it could cause flash floods and mudslides over portions of Haiti and Jamaica as it moves slowly toward the northwest or north over the next couple of days.

You can a map of the system's current location, here.

And for some very early, very rough projections on where it's headed, go here.

Ready or not, it's hurricane season



Florida's last direct strike: Hurricane Wilma, October 2005

 Today marks the first day of the 2011 Atlantic basin hurricane season. Get use to hearing words like “center of circulation” and “tropical storm warning,” and names like Arlene, Cindy and Gert over the coming months. Here are some other tidbits to chew on:

WHAT’S IN STORE?

The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration is predicting 12 to 18 named storms. Six to 10 could become hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes. Another interesting fact: Eight of the 13 busiest hurricane years have occurred since 2000. The all-time high for storms (28) was in 2005. That’s the last time Florida took a direct hit, too, with Wilma. (Find great video on Wilma here.)

MANATEE’S PAST

Knock on wood, but our county has escaped most hurricane seasons on record relatively unscathed. According to a recent study by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, only eight tropical storms or hurricanes have significantly impacted Manatee by either tides or winds.

A WORD OF ADVICE

We asked BayNews9 meteorologist Josh Linker for the single-most important piece of advice he would offer to Manatee residents heading into hurricane season. He simply put it this way: Get your plan in place. “Make sure that you know exactly what you need to do in the event that a hurricane or tropical storm is going to affect your area,” he said. “The last thing you want to do when the storm is approaching is to first start worrying about it.”

THIS YEAR’S STORM NAMES

Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince, Whitney