A strengthening tropical system in the Caribbean threatens to slam into the Riviera Maya and could intensify into a hurricane once crossing the Yucatán Peninsula, said NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.
Tropical Storm Franklin bas been forming over the northwestern Caribbean Sea, and the southern coast of Quintana Roo is most a risk or storm damage late Monday or early Tuesday.
The center of the storm appears to be headed south of Mérida, where strong storms mixed with showers are expected.
Tropical Storm Franklin has formed to the east of the Yucatan Peninsula and will threaten Mexico this week: https://t.co/zHUApOERMx pic.twitter.com/AKLmDluo4C
— AccuWeather (@breakingweather) August 7, 2017
Up to a foot of rainfall is possible, which “could produce life-threatening flash floods,” the hurricane center said.
“Drenching rain squalls across Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula” were predicted by AccuWeather, also warning of “sporadic power outages.”
Once it has moved across the peninsula and into the Bay of Campeche, Franklin could reach hurricane strength. The system is forecast to reach the eastern coast of Mexico by Wednesday night or Thursday.
By then, it could become a Category 3 storm, with winds at least 111 mph.
We’re watching two tropical waves cross the Atlantic and Caribbean. One of them now has a high chance of formation: https://t.co/1653xpbsAU pic.twitter.com/OVlytcK8hq
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) August 6, 2017
As of early Monday, maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph. It becomes a hurricane when its sustained winds are 74 mph.
The Mexican government issued a Tropical Storm Warning from Chetumal northward and around the Yucatán Peninsula to Campeche. The U.S. Consulate also warned residents and travelers to pay attention to local weather reports and watch Mexico’s Civil Protection website.
