MIAMI—Tropical Storm Arlene formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, US forecasters said, becoming the first named storm of the hurricane season in the Atlantic.
The Mexican government issued a tropical storm warning for northeastern Mexico from Barra de Nautla north to Bahia Algodones.
Expected to strengthen, Arlene was packing sustained winds of 40 miles (65 kilometers) per hour with its center about 280 miles (450 kilometers) east-southeast of Tampico, Mexico, according to the Miami-based US National Hurricane Center.
Arlene could dump four to eight inches (10-20 centimeters) of rain over mountainous areas of Mexico’s Tamaulipas and Veracruz states.
“These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides,” the NHC warned.