midnight June 29, after the cyclone's surface winds increased to 40 mph (65 km/h) about 280 mi (450 km) south-southeast of Tampico, Tamaulipas. Over the following hours, deep convection increased around the broad storm, though its circulation center continued to lack in organization. Arlene curved to the west in response to a ridge of high pressure to its north and northwest. As the shear over the region further decreased, the large storm began to strengthen gradually, developing spiral convective bands closer to its center. Although forecast models supported intensification to hurricane status, significant development was compromised by a lack of distinguishable central features. On June 30, just before Arlene made landfall, Dvorak satellite estimates indicated the storm had reached a peak intensity of 65 mph (100 km/h) while accelerating off the coast of Veracruz. Arlene moved ashore near Cabo Rojo as a strong tropical storm by 09:00 UTC, with the severest winds confined to the north of the center. Farther inland, Arlene turned to the west-southwest along the building ridge. The storm decreased in strength upon doing so; its mid- and low-level circulations became increasingly decoupled, with the latter turning elongated and ill-defined. Early on July 1, the NHC downgraded Arlene to a tropical depression, and the cyclone dissipated over the high terrain of the Sierra Madre Mountains shortly thereafter. Arlene's remnants continued to produce heavy precipitation over central Mexico, and with high air pressures offshore a tight pressure gradient generated a strong easterly breeze along the country's Pacific coastlines. Preparations Due to the threat of heavy rainfall from Arlene's precursor, authorities issued a green alert in Honduras for 13 departments on the afternoon of June 24, which remained in effect for 72 hours. In El Salvador, the departments of La Unión, Ahuachapán, and Sonsonate were put under green alerts on June 26 after rains persisted over the region. Across the Yucatán Peninsula, officials and emergency workers braced for heavy rains as the system developed. Marine and fishing operations were suspended, while schools in Benito Juárez were closed on June 28. In response to Arlene's formation, the government of Mexico issued a tropical storm warning for coastal areas from Barra de Nautla northward to Bahia Algodones on June 29. Later that day, a hurricane watch was put into effect for the area extending from Tuxpan to La Cruz, after the storm showed signs of strengthening. They were both extended shortly