By The Associated Press
Storm Grace became a hurricane on Wednesday, after dumping torrential rains in Haiti and gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico as it moved away from the Cayman Islands, and is now heading toward Mexico, where it will arrive as a hurricane on Thursday, according to the Center's forecast. National Hurricane.
Grace is located 65 miles west of Grand Cayman and 350 miles east of Tulum.
It has maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, although some gusts exceed this mark, and it is moving northwest at 15 miles per hour.
Grace is expected to make landfall in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday, when it would weaken, although on Friday it will regain strength as it moves over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, according to the news agency The Associated Press.
Its trajectory has led to the issuance of a hurricane warning for the Yucatan Peninsula, from Cancun to Punta Herrero, including the island of Cozumel.
Likewise, a tropical storm warning is also in effect for the Yucatan Peninsula, but for the areas that go from the north of Cancun to Campeche and from the south of Punta Herrero to Puerto Costa Maya.
In this area and the state of Veracruz it can leave four and eight inches of rain, which can cause flash floods and landslides.
Tropical Storm Grace hinders rescue efforts in Haiti
Aug. 17, 202101: 26
As it passed through Haiti, Grace dumped powerful rains and caused strong winds in the southwest of the country, aggravating the situation in the part most affected by the 7.2 earthquake on Saturday that has caused more than 1,900 deaths.
Authorities anticipated that up to 15 inches of water could fall.
The rains and winds raised the threat of landslides and flash floods.
[Storm Fred makes landfall in Florida as Haiti welcomes Grace after devastating earthquake]
Tropical Depression Fred concentrated over West Virginia on Wednesday, dumping heavy rains over the northeastern United States.
It threatens to trigger landslides and flash floods in upstate New York, having forced the closure of interstate highways in the lower Appalachian Mountains.
The mountainous areas of Virginia and the Carolinas are under tornado alerts.
["We still do not know how many people are under the rubble": Haiti faces a complicated rescue task after earthquake of 7.2]
Stormy weather unleashed as many as 14 unconfirmed tornadoes that caused damage in parts of Georgia and North Carolina on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, as Fred was moving north and inland, somewhat away from coastal areas.
EFE
Local authorities said a Las Vegas man died near Panama City, Florida, whose car skidded and fell into a water-filled ditch Monday night.
About 25,000 customers were without power early Wednesday in West Virginia and North Carolina.
Fred has maximum sustained winds of 25 miles per hour.
Additionally, Tropical Storm Henry is moving west over the Atlantic Ocean, threatening New England.
"The uncertainty about Henri's trajectory forecast is higher than usual and there is some risk of direct impacts in parts of the northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada," the NHC noted.