First storm of Atlantic hurricane season forms off coast of Belize

May 31, 2008 

The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season got off to an early start today when a tropical storm formed off the coast of , one day before the season officially begins. 
Tropical Storm Arthur formed Saturday afternoon and quickly made landfall at the Yucatan Peninsula, near the border between Belize and Mexico. Both countries issued a tropical storm warning for the peninsula's eastern coastline. In the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, ports were closed to small boats, water sports were banned, and those living in coastal areas were encouraged to take precautions. 
The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida says that Arthur had a maximum sustained wind speed of 40 miles per hour (64 km/hr). These winds extend outward up to 260 miles (415 km) east of the storm's center. As of 5:00 pm EDT, the center of the storm is located 75 miles (125 km) northwest of Belize City.
First storm of Atlantic hurricane season forms off coast of Belize May 31 , 2008 The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season got off to an early start today when a tropical storm formed off the coast of , one day before the season officially begins . Tropical Storm Arthur formed Saturday afternoon and quickly made landfall at the Yucatan Peninsula , near the border between Belize and Mexico . Both countries issued a tropical storm warning for the peninsula 's eastern coastline . In the Mexican state of Quintana Roo , ports were closed to small boats , water sports were banned , and those living in coastal areas were encouraged to take precautions . The National Hurricane Center in Miami , Florida says that Arthur had a maximum sustained wind speed of 40 miles per hour ( 64 km / hr ) . These winds extend outward up to 260 miles ( 415 km ) east of the storm 's center . As of 5:00 pm EDT , the center of the storm is located 75 miles ( 125 km ) northwest of Belize City .
First storm
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Atlantic hurricane season
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coast
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Belize
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The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season
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an early start
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a tropical storm
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the coast
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the season
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Tropical Storm Arthur
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the Yucatan Peninsula
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the border
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Belize
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Mexico
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Both countries
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a tropical storm
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the peninsula's eastern coastline
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the Mexican state
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Quintana Roo
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ports
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small boats
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water sports
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coastal areas
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precautions
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The National Hurricane Center
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Miami
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Florida
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Arthur
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a maximum sustained wind speed
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40 miles per hour
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64 km/hr
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These winds
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up to 260 miles
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415 km
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the storm's center
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5:00 pm EDT
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the center
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the storm
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125 km
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Belize City
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