Mexico City /
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) warned about the possible impact of Helenwhich until this Tuesday afternoon remains a tropical stormduring the early hours of Wednesday, with an intensity of category 1, in the area that goes from Playa del Carmen to Isla Mujeres, north of Quintana Roo.
At a press conference, Alejandra Méndez, coordinator of the SMN, of the National Water Commission (Conagua)explained that although the storm’s path points toward the island of Cuba and the northern part of Florida, in the United States, it could also touch the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula.
“Helen is forecast to intensify into a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 119 to 153 kilometers per hour during the early hours of Wednesday, very close to the coast of Quintana Roo. By Wednesday morning, the center of Helen will be located approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Cancun, Quintana Roo.
“According to the cone of uncertainty, a possible impact cannot be ruled out on Wednesday morning between the municipalities of Isla Mujeres, Benito Juárez (Cancún), Puerto Morelos, Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen) and Cozumel, in Quintana Roo,” he explained.
“It is a system that is marking a final trajectory towards Florida, however, we are waiting for it to cross the Yucatan Channel; it is very close to Cancun and Cozumel and according to the cone of uncertainty, it could have an impact on the northern part of Quintana Roo.
“We must not let our guard down, even if it looks like a category one hurricane, this implies winds of 119 kilometers per hour or more,” said the official.
Until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the tropical storm was moving towards the east-northwest at a speed of 19 kilometers per hour and was located 245 kilometers east-southeast of Cozumel, Quintana Roo, and 275 kilometers southeast of Cancún, Quintana Roo, with winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gusts of 100 kilometers per hour.
So far, a prevention zone for the effects of tropical storms is maintained from RÃo Lagartos, in the north of Yucatán, to Tulum, in the center of Quintana Roo, and the zone of hurricane prevention from Cabo Catoche, in the northern tip of Quintana Roo, to Tulum.
On Wednesday afternoon, Helene will begin to move towards Florida, where it is expected to arrive as Category 3 hurricane during Thursday.
So far, the ports closed to navigation For smaller vessels, these are Puerto Juárez, Cozumel, Puerto Morelos, and Playa del Carmen, while for larger vessels, Isla Mujeres and Isla Holbox are also included.
However, other ports could be closed on Tuesday evening, so authorities have asked the maritime community to pay attention to the announcements from port authorities.
EHR
