Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is bracing itself for the arrival of a hurricane bringing winds of more than 100 mph.
Hurricane Rina is forecast to approach the resort of Cancun by the end of the week and then possibly curve east towards Cuba. The weather system is about 340 miles east-southeast of Chetumal, Mexico, moving west-northwest with winds of up to 80 mph
The US National Hurricane Centre warned that winds will strengthen to at least 120 mph, making it a Category 3 storm, with the power to snap trees, blow down poorly built homes and create a “high risk of injury or death to people, livestock and pets due to flying and falling debris”.
The centre said: “Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Rina could become a major hurricane by Wednesday.”
The hurricane centre is also monitoring a low-pressure system about 200 miles east of Bonaire that is producing thunderstorms over the south eastern Caribbean. The system has a 40% chance of forming into a tropical cyclone in the next two days.
Rina is the sixth hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic storm season.