Second tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Barry

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 30 (ACN) Mexican Meteorological Institute reported that tropical depression number two continued to gain organization and intensity, becoming Tropical Storm Barry, the second named entity of the current hurricane season.

At 11 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Barry was located by a reconnaissance aircraft near 20.4 degrees North latitude and 96.2 degrees West longitude, approximately 140 kilometers east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico.

It has a central pressure of 1006 hectopascals and maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour, with higher gusts.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 55 kilometers from the center. It is moving northwest at 9 kilometers per hour. Slight intensification is forecast in the coming hours before the system reaches the east coast of Mexico. Rapid weakening is expected after the system moves inland.

This tropical storm poses no threat to Cuba, although its outermost cloud bands will maintain cloud cover in the westernmost part of the country, with isolated showers and rain.