Hurricane Paula heads towards Mexico

Hurricane Paula developed in the southwest Caribbean Sea and is the ninth hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic season.

Paula is currently in the Gulf of Honduras as a category one storm producing torrential rain and sustained winds of 75mph (121km/h). The storm is moving in a northwest direction at 10mph (16km/h) towards the eastern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

Although Paula isn't expected to make landfall, heavy rain associated with the hurricane may produce flooding across the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Forecasters expect as much as 150mm (6 inches) of rain in places.

Flood warnings are also in place for low-lying areas of Belize and north Honduras for the next few days.

After brushing past the Yucatan Peninsula, Hurricane Paula is then expected to track in a northeast direction which will take it to Cuba by Friday.

Meanwhile another Tropical Storm is likely to form in the Bay of Bengal, expected to bring torrential rain to Calcutta and perhaps Madras later this week.