Tropical Storm Grace in the Caribbean Sea is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane tomorrow, Wednesday, August 18th, before reaching the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico’s eastern coast. The potential hurricane does not pose a direct threat to Belize but will bring rain to the country beginning Wednesday afternoon and increasing at night through Thursday midday.
According to information from the National Meteorological Service of Belize, as of noon on August 17th, Tropical Storm Grace was located near latitude 18.5N 77.5W, or about 25 miles east of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Grace was moving to the west at 15mph with maximum sustained winds of 50mph. A hurricane watch is in effect for the Yucatan Peninsula from Cabo Catoche to Punta Allen. Interests elsewhere in the Yucatan Peninsula should monitor the process of this storm.
In the meantime, Tropical storm conditions are expected for areas along the southern coast of Cuba tonight and tomorrow. Heavy rainfall is expected with possible flash and urban flooding and mudslides in Cuba, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and portions of the Yucatan Peninsula. The water levels along the Yucatan Peninsula coast are expected to rise to four feet around the area where the center of the storm will make landfall at the north-eastern region of the peninsula late tomorrow, Wednesday, or early Thursday.
