Tropical Storm Grace makes Hurricane Landfall in Yucatan as Henri forecast to brush US East Coast

August 19th, 2021 at 15:59 PM

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2 years ago

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Current Status

Tropical Storm Grace was downgraded in intensity as it made landfall on the Yucatan peninsula around 09:30z Thursday morning. As per the 10AM CDT advisory of the National Hurricane Center, Grace was located at 20.2°N 88.8°W or about 110 miles (135 kilometers) East of Campeche, Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph) and gusts near 100mph and a minimum central pressure of 994 millibars. The storm is currently moving west at speed of 18 mph (30kph.) Tropical Storm Grace became the second hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane season yesterday after Hurricane Elsa formed a bit more than a month earlier. However, Tropical Storm Grace made the first official hurricane landfall of the year across the Atlantic basin. The storm is expected to reemerge off the coast of the Yucatan and reintensify to a hurricane yet again which could result in a second hurricane landfall in East-Central Mexico.

Tropical Storm Henri meanwhile, got a little stronger as it continued moving west. As per 5AM AST advisory of the National Hurricane Center, Henri was located at 29.5°N 69.5°W or about 525 miles (845 kilometers) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina or 810 miles (1,300) kilometers) south of Nantucket, Massachusetts with sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph), gusting up to 85 mph (140 kph) minimum central pressure was estimated to be at 995 millibars. The storm is currently moving west at speed of 9 mph (15 kph.) Henri continued its erratic movement early Thursday as the storm continued to march around Bermuda. Henri is projected to strengthen into a hurricane while moving North-Northeast which could result in impacts to the New England portion of the US.

Current Warnings

For Tropical Storm Grace:

Hurricane Warning for: The coast of mainland Mexico from Puerto Veracruz to Cabo Rojo

Tropical Storm Warnings:

• The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Tulum to Campeche
• The coast of mainland Mexico from north of Cabo Rojo to Barra del Tordo

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Interests elsewhere in eastern mainland Mexico should monitor the progress of Grace.

No warnings are in effect for Tropical Storm Henri. Interests in the northeastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada should monitor the progress of Henri.

Impacts of Tropical Storm Grace:

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico early Thursday, with tropical storm conditions continuing. Hurricane and tropical storm conditions will spread inland the Yucatan Peninsula during the day Thursday. Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area in mainland Mexico by late Friday, and tropical storm conditions are possible in the tropical storm watch area in mainland Mexico by late Friday. Tropical Storm conditions are possible along the southern coast of Cuba within the watch area for the next several hours.

RAINFALL:

Tropical Storm Grace is expected to produce the following rainfall amounts:

• Over central and northern portions of the Yucatan Peninsula: 4 to 8 inches of rain with isolated maximum totals of 12 inches are expected through Friday.

• Over central to northern Veracruz: 5 to 10 inches of rain with isolated maximum totals of 15 inches are expected from Friday through Sunday.

Heavy rainfall from Grace will likely result in areas of flash and urban flooding, and will also be capable of producing mudslides.

STORM SURGE: Significant storm surge of 3 to 5 ft above normal tide levels along the immediate coast near and to the north of where the center makes landfall in the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula late tonight or early Thursday could result in significant damage and threats to life and property. The threat of dangerous storm surge will reach the eastern mainland coast of Mexico Friday night or early Saturday. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

SURF: Grace will spread dangerous swells westward from Jamaica and the Cayman Islands to the southern coast of Cuba and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico through Thursday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions throughout the SW Caribbean region.

Impacts of Tropical Storm Henri:

SURF: Swells generated by Henri should continue to affect Bermuda during the next day or so as the storm generally circles the island. Swells are expected to increase across much of the east coast of the U.S. and Atlantic Canada later this week and this weekend. These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the US East Coast.