5.29.2008 10:51 AM

1st American Tropical Storm of 2008 Forms

Tropical Storm Alma to Make Landfall in Central America

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The first named storm of 2008 in the Americas, Tropical Storm Alma formed in the Pacific May 29, 2008. It was the easternmost storm ever to form in the Pacific.

Alma swept into Central America, bringing punishing winds and rain to Central America, causing at least 10 deaths in Honduras and Nicaragua.

Alma was the first tropical storm to make landfall along the Pacific coast of Central America since 1949 and the first ever recorded landfall in Nicaragua.

This image is from May 29.

Photo: NOAA

By Dan Shapley

A tropical depression in the Pacific Ocean has reached tropical storm strength, making it the first named storm in the Americas in 2008.

Tropical Storm Alma will brush by Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador, and it may also affect Guatemala.

The National Hurricane Center released this warning:

THE DEPRESSION IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA FROM COSTA RICA NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH PORTIONS OF NICARAGUA...HONDURAS...EL SALVADOR...AND GUATEMALA. ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN AREAS OF HIGHER TERRAIN. THESE RAINS MAY PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES.