Gulf Coast Preps for Arlene Assault

Tropical storm Arlene, the first named storm of the season, makes its way toward the coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to hit land in the early afternoon on Saturday. As of 5 am this morning, the lopsided storm was 170 miles south-southeast of Mobile, Alabama and had pick up quite a bit of intensity as it moved through the Gulf. The storm speed had more than doubled since it hit Cuba, running at 18 miles an hour and heading northwest. Winds are hitting speeds of 70 miles and hour. The storm is approaching the higher end of a tropical storm rating. Hurricane watches remain in effect from the mouth of the Pearl River to Pascagoula, MS and from Indian Pass to Destin in Florida. Tropical storm warnings are also in effect from Grand Isle, LA to Pascagoula and from Destin to the Steinhatchee River in Florida. According to