This afternoon the disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico reached tropical storm status and was named Arlene. The path of Arlene continues to show a southward drift, but it is expected to curve to the northeast over the open water between Florida and Cuba before skirting the southeast Florida coast and head out to sea. The southern half of the Florida Peninsula is expected to get some welcome rain that may help reduce the drought there, but Arlene should not affect other parts of the Southeast. There is nothing else expected to develop for the next couple of weeks.
