NHC: Rina Will Be Major Hurricane Soon
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Hurricane Rina is continuing to strengthening as it continues to churn towards the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
At 11 p.m., the eye of Rina was about 250 miles east-southeast of Chetumal, Mexico and was moving to the west-northwest at 3 miles per hour.
Hurricane Rina's maximum sustained winds increased to 110 miles per hour Tuesday evening. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.
The National Hurricane Center said Rina is expected to strengthen to a major hurricane, Category 3 or higher, by Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
The NHC forecast calls for Hurricane Rina to take a gradual turn toward the northwest and increase in forward speed over the next day or so.
On that forecast track, the center of Rina will approach the east cost of the Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from north of Punta Gruesa to Cancun.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to Punta Gruesa.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the coast of Belize from Belize City northward and the Honduran Bay Islands of Roatan and Guanaja.
Rina is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 8 to 16 inches over the eastern Yucatan Peninsula from Wednesday morning into Thursday.
A dangerous storm surge is expected to rain raise water levels by as much as 7 feet above normal tide level along the coast.
You can get complete details on the storm, including up-to date maps and forecasts, at the CBSMiami Tropical Weather Center.
