Hurricane Rina Projected Path: Will Smash Cancun, Could Hit US
Hurricane Rina, currently a category 2 storm, is heading towards Mexico’s top tourist destination, Cancun.
The hurricane is expected to make landfall in the eastern coast of Yucatan on Thursday. Forecasters say the storm will pass over Cancun and other resorts along the coast, with rainfall of 20-40cm.
However, the National Hurricane Center said that after strengthening to just below a Category 3 status at 11 a.m., Hurricane Rina is set to weaken gradually.
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The hurricane center said “a gradual weakening is expected to begin today, and a faster weakening may occur as the center moves over the Yucatan.”
"Our main concern is Cozumel and the Riviera Maya (the eastern coast of the Yucatan) because that's where the hurricane is expected to hit first," said Juan Gabriel Granados, operation director for state civil protection, according to CNN. "All of the authorities are under alert. The army, the Marines and the Quintana Roo state police are also under alert."
Hurricane warnings are in place from Punta Gruesa to Cancun, with an orange alert being issued, which means people should prepare and gather resources that may be used later.
Rina was formed off the coast of Honduras and Nicaragua.
