Barbara Regaining Strength

Published: Jun 2, 2007

MEXICO CITY - The second named storm of the eastern Pacific hurricane season regained tropical storm force Friday and was expected to hit Mexico or Guatemala this weekend.

A tropical storm watch was in effect from Sipacate, Guatemala, to Barra de Tonala, Mexico, and the National 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 20 inches of rain over portions of southeastern Mexico and Guatemala.

With maximum winds of 50 mph, the storm was centered about 140 miles southwest of the Guatemala-Mexico border.

Barbara was expected to make a turn today toward the northeast - toward the coast - and hit land either in Guatemala or Mexico within 36 hours, 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.