Tropical Storm in Gulf of Mexico could become hurricane

MIAMI, United States (AFP)—Tropical Storm Isaias formed Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico and could strengthen into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, forecasters said. The storm is expected to approach the northern Gulf coast of the United States on Friday, the National Hurricane Centre said. As of Wednesday morning, it was churning 420 kilometres (260 miles) northwest of Puerto Progreso, Mexico and 540 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Isaias is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. People living in the area stretching from Louisiana to northwest Florida should prepare for the possibility of a hurricane, the NHC said. Although this would be the first one of the Atlantic season, several hurricanes have already formed in the Pacific, including Polo, which at one point reached top level 5 in strength.