Arlene lashes central Mexico with heavy rains

By Alberto Fajardo

TUXPAN, Mexico (Reuters) - Torrential rains hit large parts of central Mexico as Arlene, the first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, moved inland after drenching southern coasts, felling trees and flooding streets on Thursday.

As the storm weakened to a depression in the evening, it proved less dangerous than Mexican officials had earlier feared. No ports were closed and state oil monopoly Pemex, which had been on alert for threats to its refineries and other facilities in Arlene's path, reported no damage.

Still, the storm that made landfall south of Tampico, where Pemex has its 190,000-barrel-per-day Madero refinery, began dumping rain on the country's center, causing flooding in the capital, as it moved west.

Mexicans facing Arlene's initial onslaught were struck by the power of the rainfall.

"The downpour is so strong, it's the first time I've ever seen rains like this," said Juana Manrique, 23, from the coastal fishing town Tuxpan in the state of Veracruz.

"There's no one in the streets. I'm going back to lock myself in the house and not leave for anything," she added.

FLOODING

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said that even though the depression will likely dissipate over the mountains of eastern Mexico by early Friday, total rainfall in mountainous areas could reach 15 inches, causing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Mexican authorities said at least 20 states were likely to be hit by the storm.

Late on Thursday, Arlene had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, the NHC said. The storm was about 85 miles west of Tuxpan and 90 miles southwest of Tampico, the center said.

Strong winds and rain of 4 to 8 inches battered the eastern states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz and eastern San Luis Potosi. The storm's center is expected to hit Mexico City by Friday.

Mexico's northeastern Atlantic coast is popular with local tourists for its beaches but many poor coastal towns lack flood defenses.

The rains could bring some relief to area farmers planting sugar cane, sorghum and fruit trees who have been suffering from a prolonged dry spell.

Hurricane Beatriz, the second tropical storm of the Pacific season, hit Mexico last week but did no major damage.