Tropical Storm Alex

Tropical Storm Alex:The first tropical storm of the season 2010 Atlantic hurricane has formed in the western Caribbean, hours after Hurricane Hunters found the area of disturbed weather was actually a tropical depression late on Friday.

Tropical Storm Alex has sustained winds of 40 mph with higher gusts up to 50 mph and was moving west-northwest at 8 mph from 7 am EDT Intermediate Advisory. Tropical storm winds extended 105 miles from the center of the storm.

Further strengthening of tropical storm Alex is expected to remain near or below a large ridge of high pressure, which will result in very favorable environment for continued development with light vertical wind shear.

Alex is less than 255 miles east southeast of Chetumal and Mexico and less than 200 miles east of Belize City.

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A tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast of Belize and the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Chetumal to Cancun.

The track forecast by the National Hurricane Center, the center of Alex will approach the coast of Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula late tonight or Sunday morning.

Along the way Alex, heavy amounts of rain of 4-8 inches with localized amounts up to 15 inches are likely in mountain areas, which could lead to life-threatening floods.

After making landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula on Sunday, there is great uncertainty.

A persistent but sinuous ridge over the South has been responsible for the hot, dry conditions continued mainly for over a month could keep what remains of Alex after he moves out of the southwest Gulf of Mexico on Monday, moving west and / or northwest to the west, it will have on the mainland of Mexico and southern Texas or extreme but the forecast models show some weakening of the ridge, which would bring further north. In addition, due to environmental conditions remain very favorable for development, hurricane forecast models want to develop more quickly up the remains of Hurricane Alex. This is not likely in this time, but re-building is certainly possible.

The official National Hurricane Center’s forecast calls for Alex to return to the warm waters of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico Monday morning after weakening to a tropical depression Sunday. Here again is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm early Tuesday.

Regardless of route forecasts, all coastal residents should continue to monitor the latest information as it becomes available regarding the first tropical storm for the 2010 season of Atlantic hurricanes, Tropical Storm Alex.