Grace smacks into Mexico's Caribbean coast near ancient Mayan temples of Tulum, tearing the roofs off some homes, knocking out power to thousands and keeping tourists locked down
Hurricane Grace struck Mexico's Caribbean coast just south of the ancient Mayan temples of Tulum Thursday, tearing the roofs off some homes, knocking out power to thousands and keeping tourists off beaches.
The push across land weakened the storm, but by evening it was centered back over the Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. National Hurricane Center said it was regaining strength as it headed for the Mexican mainland, expected to arrive late Friday or early Saturday.
Many streets were blocked by fallen limbs and trees that pulled down powerlines, leaving thousands in the dark.
One lane of the highway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum was blocked by a fallen road sign. A gas station was destroyed when a large pavilion blew down, smashing two cars.
The state had opened shelters and evacuated some hotels and residents ahead of the storm's arrival.
Hurricane Grace has made landfall on Mexico's Caribbean coast near Tulum on Thursday. Mexico and Puerto Veracruz to Cabo Rojo have been issued a hurricane warning
Grace missed the popular cruise ship destination Cozumel and came ashore south of Playa del Carmen, where the downtown, usually thumping with music and clubgoers, was eerily desolate Wednesday night. Authorities had ordered all businesses closed and people inside by 8pm.
Most businesses still remained closed, but the few that opened saw long lines of residents waiting to buy tortillas and other food.
Quintana Roo Governor Carlos Joaquín said the storm had knocked out power to some 84,000 customers in Cancun and 65,000 in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Puerto Aventura and Tulum. But he said there were no reported deaths.
More than 300 people have been evacuated from their homes in Quintana Roo state, according to the governor, Carlos Joaquín.
And the airport opened back up on Thursday.
Powerlines are down, leaving 84,000 customers in Cancun and 65,000 in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Puerto Aventura and Tulum without power
Strong winds and heavy rainfalls destroyed a gas station, causing damage to cars. Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, northern Queretaro, and eastern San Luis Potosi are expected to get six to 12 inches of rain
In Tulum, some families passed harrowing hours sheltering from cracking trees and flying debris.
Around 2 a.m. Thursday, as Grace's eye spun just offshore, Carlos González grabbed his 1 1/2 year-old son and ran from his home with his wife to a public school converted into a shelter for dozens of families. The light from his cell phone helped them find their way through the dark streets.
"The only thing I have left is what I'm wearing," the 35-year-old construction worker said. "I knew my house wasn't going to stand it because it's made of cardboard. When the wind came I was really scared and decided to leave."
Miguel Ángel Garcia decided to stay. On Thursday, he used a machete to hack at a tree trunk that had fallen onto his home's roof.
"The wind came and they told us we should get to the school, but we didn't have time because the trees started coming," said the 33-year-old waiter. "We decided to stay and not go out into the street and leave it up to God."
By night, tropical-storm-force winds were back up to 65mph and rising. It was centered about 260 miles east of Tuxpan and was heading west at 16 mph.
A hurricane warning has been put in place for the coast of mainland Mexico and Puerto Veracruz to Cabo Rojo, meaning the National Hurricane Center expects the storm to recategorize as a hurricane within 24 hours.
A tropical storm warning has been issued for mainland Mexico.
Grace is expected to hit mainland Mexico late Friday or early Saturday morning and is 260 miles off the coast of Tuxpan as for 4am
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The center advised those affected to prepare 'to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.'
Grace is expected to weaken considerably upon making landfall and move over the mountains in central Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, northern Queretaro, and eastern San Luis Potosi are expected to get six to 12 inches of rain with a maximum isolated of 18 inches and could result in flash flooding and mudslides through Sunday.
The sea level is also expected to rise three to five feet higher than normal near the coast and north of where the storm hits. And the surf is expected to be dangerous and life-threatening.
Video footage showed strong winds ripping through the coast of Mexico has Grace rained down. Normally a populated area, now desolate with the storm
State authorities said that as of last week, the region was hosting about 130,000 tourists and hotels were more than half full despite the pandemic.
The Category 1 storm already has soaked earthquake-damaged Haiti, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands en route to a direct hit on the Riviera Maya, the heart of Mexico's tourism industry. Grace's center struck just south of Tulum with maximum sustained winds of 80mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
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Tropical Storm Henri is expected to start affecting the East Coast of the US sometime Sunday into Monday and will cause life-threatening surf and potential flash flooding
Following Grace is Tropical Storm Henri, who is heading up the East Coast of the US. The storm is expected to make contact with land sometime between Sunday and Monday.
Henri is situated about 370 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and about 780 miles south-southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts as of 6.30am today. It had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
There's an increased risk for a storm surge, heavy rainfall, and strong winds in southern parts of New England and Long Island.
A hurricane storm surge warning has been issued for Connecticut, Rhode Island, Long Island, and southeastern Massachusetts.
Heavy rainfall could prepare flash, urban, or small flooding in parts of southern New England for Sunday and Monday with two to five inches expected, as well as a three to five feet storm surge. The swells from Henri could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.