Barry forms in southern Gulf

The second tropical storm of the young 2013 season -- Barry -- formed in the southern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday.

According to the National Weather Service, at 5 p.m. EDT, Barry's center was about 70 miles east of Veracruz. It was heading west at 6 mph, away from the U.S., expected to hit the Mexican coast sometime Thursday morning.

Data from an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft say maximum sustained winds have reached 40 mph, with higher gusts.

The weather service says the 70-mile-wide storm is expected to weaken once it hits the coast.

The storm is expected to produce heavy rain and possible flash floods in the mountainous areas of Central Mexico.