Arthur launches hurricane season

AMBERGIS CAYE, Belize – A weak tropical storm formed Saturday off the Yucatan Peninsula and quickly made landfall at the Belize-Mexico border, dumping rain and kicking up surf.

The first named storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, Arthur was moving northwest across the Yucatan with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The storm formed one day before today’s official start of the season, hitting land near the Mexican port city of Chetumal and Belize’s Corozal city. It dumped rain as far south as Belize City and kicked up strong surf on the popular tourist island of Ambergis Caye.

Tropical storm warnings were issued for Belize and Mexico’s Caribbean coastline.

In the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, which includes the popular resort of Cancun, ports were closed and all water sports were banned. Residents and tourists were encouraged to take precautions in coastal areas, said state Civil Protection Director Carlos Rodriguez Hoy. Ports were also closed on the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres and in Chetumal.

Authorities expected rains of up to a little more than 1 inch caused by the passing remnants of Arthur, Rodriguez said.