Hurricane Grace is nearing category two hurricane strength as it nears Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
In a 5 pm update, the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said Grace has maximum sustained winds that are near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km). Tropical-storm-force wind gusts were reported over portions of western Cuba this afternoon. The estimated minimum central pressure is 992 mb (29.30 inches).
NHC said further strengthening is possible before the centre of Grace reaches the Yucatan Peninsula. Weakening will occur while the centre moves over the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday but it will re-strengthen over the southwest Gulf of Mexico on Friday.
At 5 pm EDT, the centre of Hurricane Grace was located over the northwest Caribbean Sea about 250 miles (400 km) east of Tulum, Mexico.
Grace is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph (26 km/h).
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Cancun to Punta Herrero, including Cozumel
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
The Cayman Islands.
The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from north of Cancun to Campeche.
The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from south of Punta Herrero to Puerto Costa Maya.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
The southern coast of the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio, as well as Isla de la Juventud.
Source: Loop
