Rina Strengthens, Closes in on Mexico

Rina is moving towards Mexico and precautions are being taken.

"Rina has the potential to become a major hurricane today or tonight," the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Rina is a Category Two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson intensity scale, packing winds of 110 mph. When sustained winds hit 111 miles per hour storms are considered major Category Three hurricanes.

The sixth hurricane in the Atlantic season this year, Rina was located 215 miles east southeast of Chetumal, Mexico, and 235 miles south southeast of Cozumel early on Wednesday, and was moving west at 5 mph.

The storm was expected to be near or over the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula late Wednesday and on Thursday.

Some cruise ships revised their travel schedules and the governor of Quintana Roo ordered hundreds of people evacuate the fishing village of Punta Allen on the Yucatan peninsula's western coast on Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Karl Forms Quickly

Tropical Storm Karl has formed in the northwestern Caribbean, heading on a path expected to take it over the Yucatan Peninsula and Mexico.

Forecasters say the storm has maximum sustained winds of about 40 mph and is located about 270 miles east of Chetumal, Mexico. It's moving west-northwest at 15 mph.

Mexico's government has issued a tropical storm warning for the peninsula from Chetumal northward to Cabo Catoche. Parts of Belize are under a tropical storm watch.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm is expected to strengthen, and its center could be over the Yucatan on Wednesday.