Forecasters say Tropical Storm Isaias is gaining strength off eastern Mexico and should become the first hurricane of the Atlantic season before it strikes the U.S. Gulf Coast later in the week.
The storm is on track to tie or break a 121-year-old record as the latest first Atlantic hurricane of the season. Isaias was centred Wednesday morning about 255 miles (410 kilometres) northwest of Progreso, Mexico.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said the storm had maximum sustained winds of 50 m.p.h. Forecasters predict the storm will become a hurricane on Thursday as it turns northward toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Landfall is expected late Friday or early Saturday between the Mississippi coast and the Florida Panhandle.
Dave Collins and R.j. Rico, The Associated Press
