The National Hurricane center just announced the 16th named storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Paula has formed at the Location: 16.0°N 84.0°W, which puts it about 130 miles ESE of Isla Guanaja, Honduras. Paula is currently moving to the northwest at 9 miles per hour, and has maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour as of the 5PM EST advisory.

As we approach the latter part of the hurricane season, storms typically form in the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico, and eventually move to the northeast. Paula, according to the 5 day forecast from the NHC, will likely meander in the Gulf of Honduras and Caribbean for the next several days. Paula is expected to strengthen, becoming a hurricane sometime in the next couple of days. The projected path of Tropical storm Paula takes it to the northwest, then north, placing it just off of Cozumel on Wednesday afternoon. From there it is projected to move east, and then south, putting it only about 250 miles to the NNE of where it is right now.

Hurricane warnings have been issued for the coast of Mexico from Punta Gruesa northward to Cancun. A tropical storm waring is also issued from Chetumal, Mexico, northward to Punta Gruesa. All interests along the eastern coast of Mexico, and later in the week, the Gulf of Mexico, should pay close attention to the future track projections.