Tropical Storm Barbara strengthens
Fri Jun 1, 11:55 PM ET
MEXICO CITY - The second named storm of the eastern Pacific hurricane season regained tropical storm force Friday and was expected to make landfall on Saturday near the Mexico-Guatemala border.
A tropical storm watch was in force from Sipacate, Guatemala, to Barra de Tonala, Mexico, and the U.S. Hurricane Center in Miami warned that Barbara was gaining strength and could unleash life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
The storm was forecast to dump up to 10 inches of rain over portions of southeastern Mexico and Guatemala, and up to 20 inches in parts.
With maximum winds of near 50 mph, the storm was centered about 110 miles west-southwest of the Guatemala-Mexico border.
Barbara and was moving northeast at 7 mph, and was expected to turn further to the north and hit land just north of the Guatemalan border sometime Saturday, the hurricane center said.
Barbara had weakened to a tropical depression late Thursday.
The first tropical storm of the eastern Pacific's 2007 season, Alvin, faded at sea Thursday.
The eastern Pacific hurricane season opened May 15.
Tropical Storm Barbara strengthens
