**Tropical Storm Nadine to Bring Heavy Rain and Flooding to Belize and Southern Mexico**

Tropical Storm Nadine, newly named by the National Hurricane Center, is poised to unleash torrential rains on Belize and southern Mexico beginning Saturday. This rapidly forming storm, previously identified as Potential Tropical Cyclone Fifteen, is already impacting coastal areas with strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Early Saturday morning, Nadine was positioned just off the coast of Belize, packing maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect from Belize City, Belize, to the popular Mexican vacation destinations of Cancun and Cozumel. A notable wind gust of 51 mph was recorded in Cancun as Nadine approached.

Although wind damage is not expected to be significant, the primary concern is the potential for severe flooding. Meteorologists predict widespread rainfall amounts of 5 to 8 inches across Belize, northern Guatemala, and southern Mexican states stretching from Quintana Roo to Veracruz, continuing into early next week. There is a possibility that isolated locations, particularly in mountainous regions, could see up to a foot of rain, leading to localized flooding, mudslides, and landslides.

Nadine is projected to move inland around midday Saturday, bringing gusty winds and persistent heavy rain. The storm is expected to weaken gradually as it traverses northern Guatemala and southeastern Mexico from Saturday afternoon into the night.

"This is not expected to be a long-lived tropical storm," stated FOX Weather Meteorologist Jane Minar. "It is likely to dissipate by Saturday night as it continues moving across parts of Central America." Meteorological models agree that the storm system will push across southern Mexico and Central America, possibly ending up in the eastern Pacific.

Importantly, Nadine poses no threat to the United States. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross indicated that atmospheric conditions in the Florida and northern Gulf of Mexico regions are not conducive to any potential tropical systems threatening the US at this time.