GUATEMALA CITY - The first tropical storm of the season headed for the Pacific coast of Central America on Wednesday, closing a port and raising fears of flooding and landslides in Guatemala and El Salvador.
Tropical storm Adrian was about 250 miles (400 km) off the coast and moving northeast at 9 mph (14 kph). It was expected to touch land on Thursday, bringing 50 to 60 mph (70-100 km) winds and heavy rain, Guatemalan weather agency Insivume said.
Guatemala's Port Quetzal on the Pacific coast was closed on Wednesday as the storm approached, port authorities said.
Up to 20 inches (508 mm) of rain could fall in the Guatemalan highlands and 6 to 10 inches (152 to 254 mm) was expected in lower-lying areas, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
"With this amount of rain we think we will have rivers burst their banks and mudslides," said Insivume spokesman Cesar George.
El Salvador suspended boating activities and was considering closing airports and evacuating residents, officials said.
The National Hurricane Center has predicted that 11 to 15 tropical storms will form this season in the eastern Pacific, with six to eight expected to become hurricanes.
The last big storm to hit northern Central America was Hurricane Iris in 2001.
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