Tropical storm Rina: Hurricane to hit Cancun after gaining strength in Caribbean
US weather forecasters have warned that Hurricane Rina could become a 'major' storm by Wednesday, before slamming into the popular Mexican resort of Cancun.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) has predicted the storm will hit the well-known tourist zone on Thursday after strengthening over the next 48 hours.
The swirling mass of thunderstorms is centered about 195 miles southwest of Grand Cayman island and is moving west-northwest with top sustained winds of 80 miles per hour.
Warning: Hurricane Rina is expected to make landfall in Mexico on Thursday
It has already brushed Nicaragua and Honduras, where dozens of people have been reported killed by flooding and mudslides.
In Nicaragua, a Navy boat sent to evacuate coastal residents has gone missing with 27 people on board.
The sixth named hurricane in the Atlantic this year comes at the end of the season, meaning the potential for damage is increased as in many areas the ground is already waterlogged.
Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua have all experienced deaths due to flooding caused by heavy rains in recent weeks.
Up to 10cm of rain has also been forecast for the nearby Cayman Islands as the storm passes.
The NHC has told residents and holidaymakers in Belize and on the east coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula to monitor Rina's progress.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also advises British holidaymakers to keep up-to-date with local radio and television broadcasts and follow orders given locally during a tropical storm.
More...
The Mexican government has issued both a tropical storm and a hurricane watch for the Yucatan Peninsula, meaning that high winds are expected in the next 48 hours.
A tropical storm watch has been issued for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to Punta Gruesa.
And a hurricane watch has been issued from Punts Gruesa to Cancun.
The NHC has warned that winds could strengthen to at least 120mph making Rina a Category 3 storm.
The increased strength means the hurricane will be strong enough to snap trees, blow down poorly built homes and create a 'high risk of injury or death to people, livestock and pets due to flying and falling debris.'
'Rina is likely to intensify further during the next couple of days as it traverses the very warm waters of the northwest Caribbean Sea,' the NHC said.
Comments