Arthur is Season’s First Named Storm

As hurricanes go, it isn’t, but tropical depression Arthur has nonetheless won the distinction as the the first named storm of the current season.

The most recent – and last – bulletin from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, indicated that Arthur is “dissipating but potential for heavy rains continues.” Its center is “near the northwestern border between Guatemala and Mexico about 95 miles (150 kms) south-southeast of Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico,” said the NHC

Arthur is moving toward the southwest at about 6 mph (10 km/hr.) and is gradually dissipating inland over southeastern Mexico. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph (45 km/hr)…with higher gusts.

While it may not be much of a storm, the NHC warned that, “Arthur and its remnants are expected to produce total rain accumulations of 5 to 10 inches [8 to 16 cms] over portions of Belize, Guatemala and southeastern Mexico with isolated amounts up to 15 inches [24 cms]. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides, especially in mountainous terrain.”

Source: National Hurricane Center – www.nhc.noaa.gov