Tropical Storm Alma Pummels Nicaragua, Fells Trees
Tropical Storm Alma, the first cyclone of the Americas hurricane season, slammed into Nicaragua's Pacific coast on Thursday, its winds toppling trees and ripping roofs off flimsy homes. Torrential rain fell in this colonial western city as Alma whipped up sustained winds near 65 mph (100 kph) and even higher gusts. Power poles were flattened and the former capital of Nicaragua -- home to around 150,000 people -- was without electricity and telephone services, witnesses said.