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Veracruz, Mexico-The hurricane race crossed the Gulf of Mexico as a major Category 3 storm early on Saturday, making its second landing in two days, pouring into small fishing villages and beach resorts.
The storm lost power while crossing the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday and swirling Mexico’s major tourist destinations, but rapidly withdrawing power from the relatively warm Gulf of Mexico as it moved toward the country’s mainland. I did.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Grace had a maximum wind speed of 125 miles when it landed about 30 miles south-southeast of Tuxpan early Saturday. It was heading west at 10 mph.
Forecasters said Grace would soon lose power as she swirled inland over the mountains carrying heavy rains towards the center of the country, including the Mexico City region. According to forecasters, it can rain 6 to 12 inches and pose a threat of flash floods, landslides and urban floods.
Hours before approaching the coast, Grace caused strong winds, high waves and rain in Tuspan, Possarica, Xalapa, the Veracruz community in Veracruz, and the coastal towns of Tabasco and Tamaulipas, according to the Mexican Meteorological Agency.
Fishermen pulled the boat out of the water and carried it into the harbor to prevent damage when the leading edge of the storm hit the shore. Merchants boarded the windows of their business to protect them.
Authorities predict that the central and Mexican capitals will be affected by tropical cyclones with strong gusts and intermittent rains over the weekend.
Heriberto Montes Ortiz, Deputy Director of Technology for the National Water Commission of Mexico, said Grace could cause expansion of rivers and streams, floods in lowlands, landslides and damage to roads and highways.
The agency monitored rivers, dams and communities where heavy rainfall was expected, especially in Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo and Tlaxcala.
The hurricane struck early Thursday near Tulum, a Yucatan resort town famous for its Mayan ruins. Some families had a disastrous time protecting themselves from cracks in the trees and scattering of debris.
As the storm approached, Carlos Gonzalez grabbed his one-and-a-half-year-old son, ran with his wife from his home to a school shelter, and used his cell phone lights through a dark street.
“All I have left is what I’m wearing,” said the construction worker. “I knew I couldn’t stand the house because it was made of cardboard. When the wind came, I was really scared and decided to leave.”
There were no reports of death, but many streets were blocked by fallen limbs and trees that pulled down power lines, exposing thousands to darkness on Thursday.
Most businesses remained closed on Friday, and a few that opened drew a long line of people waiting to buy tortillas and other food products.
Governor Carlos Joaquin of Quintana Roo said the storm had cut off power to approximately 84,000 customers in Cancun and 65,000 customers in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Puerto Aventura and Tulum.
Felix Marquez and Fabiola Sanchez
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