Residents of the southern United States along the Gulf of Mexico are bracing for severe weather as Tropical Storm Arlene heads toward land.
U.S. weather forecasters have issued a hurricane warning for parts of the coast.
Forecasters say the tropical storm, with winds near 113 kilometers per hour, is in the Gulf of Mexico about 170 kilometers from the coast of Alabama. They warn it could reach hurricane strength before its expected landfall later Saturday.
The hurricane warning is in effect for parts of the southeastern states of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, around where Hurricane Ivan struck last September, causing widespread destruction.
The National Weather Service is also warning about possible flooding.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
