Tropical storm Barbara forms off Mexico's west coast
Storm en wind
Tropical storm Barbara forms off Mexico's west coast
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A satellite image shows Tropical Storm Barbara off Mexico's Pacific coast at 11:45 a.m. ET Wednesday.
Storyhighlights
• Tropical Storm Barbara expected to head toward Acapulco
• Forecasters: Storm should gain strength over next four days
• Tropical Depression Alvin also is lurking in Pacific Ocean
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Reuters) -- Tropical Storm Barbara formed Wednesday off Mexico and was expected to head toward the resort of Acapulco in the coming days.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, said Barbara was stationary about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south of the port of Puerto Angel in the state of Oaxaca.
"Interests along the Pacific coast of southeastern Mexico and Guatemala should closely monitor the progress of Barbara," the center said.
Barbara is packing sustained winds of near 40 mph (65 kph) and should gain strength over the next four days, the hurricane center said.
Forecasters said the storm would move slightly farther away from the Mexican coast over the next two days and then turn 180 degrees and head for land.
By Monday, it was expected to be close to Acapulco, a popular vacation resort.
Barbara was not forecast to track near the Mexican oil port of Salina Cruz, which is farther to the south.
Tropical Depression Alvin, which earlier this week reached tropical storm strength, also is lurking in the Pacific Ocean but is a long way off the coast.
Copyright 2007 Reuters.
A satellite image shows Tropical Storm Barbara off Mexico's Pacific coast at 11:45 a.m. ET Wednesday.
Storyhighlights
• Tropical Storm Barbara expected to head toward Acapulco
• Forecasters: Storm should gain strength over next four days
• Tropical Depression Alvin also is lurking in Pacific Ocean
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Reuters) -- Tropical Storm Barbara formed Wednesday off Mexico and was expected to head toward the resort of Acapulco in the coming days.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, said Barbara was stationary about 125 miles (200 kilometers) south of the port of Puerto Angel in the state of Oaxaca.
"Interests along the Pacific coast of southeastern Mexico and Guatemala should closely monitor the progress of Barbara," the center said.
Barbara is packing sustained winds of near 40 mph (65 kph) and should gain strength over the next four days, the hurricane center said.
Forecasters said the storm would move slightly farther away from the Mexican coast over the next two days and then turn 180 degrees and head for land.
By Monday, it was expected to be close to Acapulco, a popular vacation resort.
Barbara was not forecast to track near the Mexican oil port of Salina Cruz, which is farther to the south.
Tropical Depression Alvin, which earlier this week reached tropical storm strength, also is lurking in the Pacific Ocean but is a long way off the coast.
Copyright 2007 Reuters.
Every cloud has a silver lining
Tropical Storm Barbara Gains Momentum
U.S. Hurricane Center Warns: Barbara Could Unleash Flooding and Mudslides Near Mexico-Guatemala Border
(AP) Tropical Storm Barbara churned toward Mexico's southern Pacific coast and was expected to make landfall Saturday near the Mexico-Guatemala border, an area notorious for its vulnerability to flooding.
A tropical storm warning was in force from Sipacate, Guatemala, to Barra de Tonala, Mexico, and the U.S. Hurricane Center in Miami warned that Barbara could unleash life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
The Mexican government issued a decree opening up disaster emergency funds for parts of the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. Rain was already being reported in some parts of Chiapas, and authorities were readying shelters and evacuating people in vulnerable areas.
With maximum winds of nearly 50 mph, the storm was centered about 210 miles southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexico, about 30 miles offshore of the Mexico-Guatemala border.
Barbara was moving northeast at 8 mph, and was expected to turn and hit land just north of the Guatemalan border sometime Saturday, the hurricane center said.
The storm was forecast to dump up to 10 inches of rain over portions of southeastern Mexico and Guatemala, with accumulations of up to 20 inches in parts.
The area was devastated by Hurricane Stan in October 2005, when heavy rains sparked flash floods and mudslides in the mountainous terrain. Seventy-one people died in Chiapas, and 654 people were killed and 828 left missing in Guatemala. Another 71 died in El Salvador.
The first tropical storm of the eastern Pacific's 2007 season, Alvin, faded at sea Thursday. The eastern Pacific hurricane season opened May 15.
© MMVII The Associated Press.CBSNews.com
U.S. Hurricane Center Warns: Barbara Could Unleash Flooding and Mudslides Near Mexico-Guatemala Border
(AP) Tropical Storm Barbara churned toward Mexico's southern Pacific coast and was expected to make landfall Saturday near the Mexico-Guatemala border, an area notorious for its vulnerability to flooding.
A tropical storm warning was in force from Sipacate, Guatemala, to Barra de Tonala, Mexico, and the U.S. Hurricane Center in Miami warned that Barbara could unleash life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
The Mexican government issued a decree opening up disaster emergency funds for parts of the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. Rain was already being reported in some parts of Chiapas, and authorities were readying shelters and evacuating people in vulnerable areas.
With maximum winds of nearly 50 mph, the storm was centered about 210 miles southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexico, about 30 miles offshore of the Mexico-Guatemala border.
Barbara was moving northeast at 8 mph, and was expected to turn and hit land just north of the Guatemalan border sometime Saturday, the hurricane center said.
The storm was forecast to dump up to 10 inches of rain over portions of southeastern Mexico and Guatemala, with accumulations of up to 20 inches in parts.
The area was devastated by Hurricane Stan in October 2005, when heavy rains sparked flash floods and mudslides in the mountainous terrain. Seventy-one people died in Chiapas, and 654 people were killed and 828 left missing in Guatemala. Another 71 died in El Salvador.
The first tropical storm of the eastern Pacific's 2007 season, Alvin, faded at sea Thursday. The eastern Pacific hurricane season opened May 15.
© MMVII The Associated Press.CBSNews.com
Every cloud has a silver lining
