Tropical storm Alex expected to become a hurricane
June 30th, 2010 - 5:00 am ICT by BNO News
MIAMI (BNO NEWS) – With tropical storm Alex slowly approaching northern Mexico and Texas, authorities have issued a hurricane warning from south of Baffin Bay in Texas to La Cruz, in Mexico.
The storm regained tropical storm strength on late Sunday as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico. It earlier weakened back to a tropical depression as it moved over the Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala.
On Tuesday afternoon, around 4.00 p.m. CDT (2100 GMT), the storm was slowly strengthening as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico.
The storm is moving toward the northwest near 20 km/hr (13 mph). “A gradual turn toward the west-northwest is expected on Wednesday. The center of Alex will approach the coast of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas on Wednesday and make landfall Wednesday night,” said forecaster Beven.
Maximum sustained winds are near 110 kilometers (70 miles) per hour. “Alex is currently in a low-shear environment over warm sea surface temperatures which are apparently favorable for strengthening until landfall,” Beven added.
Tropical storm force winds currently extend up to 280 kilometers (175 miles) from the center and Alex is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of six to 12 over portions of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches.
Although the National Hurricane Center earlier said the storm may become a category 3 hurricane before it makes landfall, that is now extremely unlikely. The latest models show that Alex will not surpass category one.
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Tags: baffin bay, bno, category 3 hurricane, gulf of mexico, hurricane warning, landfall, maximum amounts, maximum sustained winds, national hurricane center, northeastern mexico, northern mexico, sea surface temperatures, texas authorities, tropical depression, tropical storm alex, tropical storm force, tropical storm strength, warm sea, west northwest, yucatan peninsula