Tropical Storm Earl has formed in the Caribbean and is headed toward Mexico and parts of Central America, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Tuesday.
A tropical storm warning/hurricane watch is in effect from Punta Allen, Mexico, south to the Belize-Guatemala border.
There was a tropical storm warning for much of the Honduran coast.
The storm has winds of 60 mph (96 kph) and some strengthening is expected Wednesday and Thursday. The storm could be at near-hurricane strength when it approaches Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula early Thursday.
At 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, Earl was about 395 miles (636 kilometers) east of Belize City and moving west at 16 mph (26 kph).
Heavy rain and gusty winds were expected to hit Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday. Forecasters predict 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of rain could fall.
The center warns that when the storm reaches Mexico and Belize it could cause life-threatening floods and mudslides. As many as 16 inches (41 cm) are forecast in some areas.
The outer bands of Earl could hit Honduras on Tuesday night.
There is little chance the storm will directly impact the United States.
