Delta increased in strength by 80 mph in just 24 hours
A powerful Hurricane Delta roared ashore on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday, making landfall near the Cancun resort town and sending thousands of tourists and residents into shelters.
By Janice Dean, Travis Fedschun via Fox News
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Wednesday morning that Hurricane Delta has weakened a bit to a Category 2 storm but is still packing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph as it was located 35 miles west of Cancun.
The storm made landfall along the coast of northeastern Mexico near Puerto Morelos around 6:30 a.m. EDT, according to the NHC. Winds in Cancun were reported around 84 mph with gusts up to 106 mph.
Forecasters said that up to 12 feet of storm surge is possible from Cabo Catoche to Progresso, which will be accompanied by “large and destructive waves.”
Up to 10 inches of rain is also possible across the region, which could cause flash flooding and mudslides.
The storm will weaken a bit before heading into the Gulf of Mexico later on Wednesday night.
Delta is forecast to re-strengthen as it moves over the southern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday night and Thursday, and could yet again become a Category 4 hurricane by Thursday night. The storm has a history of explosive development.
Delta increased in strength by 80 mph in just 24 hours, more than doubling from a 60 mph storm at 2 p.m. EDT Monday to 140 mph at 2 p.m. EDT Tuesday. Its top winds peaked at 145 mph before weakening slightly late Tuesday as it closed in on Yucatan.
We’re expecting Delta to make landfall across Louisiana late Friday bringing dangerous, life-threatening conditions once again to this region.
Residents in these areas along the Gulf Coast need to complete their preparations and/or evacuations by Wednesday. Read more from Fox News.
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