Tropical storm set to avoid oil spill region

The first tropical storm of the Atlantic 2010 hurricane season has formed in the western Caribbean, but it’s not on track to pass over the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The first tropical storm of the Atlantic 2010 hurricane season has formed in the western Caribbean, but it is not on track to pass over the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Tropical Storm Alex has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the east coast of Belize and the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico.

Meanwhile, two hurricanes in the Pacific – Darby and Celia – have weakened to Category 2 strength.