Tropical storm forms off Central America in Pacific*

    * Story Highlights
    * NEW: Tropical Storm Alma dumps rain over Costa Rica
    * Tropical storm warning issued from Costa Rica to El Salvador
    * Storm expected to strengthen before hitting Nicaragua

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) -- Tropical Storm Alma lashed the coast of
Central America with heavy rains on Thursday after becoming the first
such storm of the eastern Pacific season.

Authorities issued a tropical storm warning from Costa Rica to El Salvador.

Costa Rican authorities evacuated low-lying areas and set up more than
160 storm shelters after Alma dumped rain over the country for 24 hours.
A few highways were blocked by landslides.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, said the storm had
maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and was expected to
strengthen before hitting Nicaragua's northwest corner later Thursday.

The storm was moving north at 6 mph (9 kph).

The center predicted the storm would plow through the southern border
region of El Salvador and Honduras early Friday.

Forecasters warn that Alma could dump as much as 20 inches (50
centimeters) of rain in parts of Central America.

The eastern Pacific hurricane season began May 15.