Tropical Storm Franklin Soaking Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula; Hurricane Watches Issued

Chris Dolce
Published: August 8,2017
Tropical Storm Franklin will exit Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula later today, then will make its final landfall in eastern Mexico's Bay of Campeche coast Thursday, possibly as the Atlantic Basin's first hurricane of the season.
(MORE: Hurricane Central)
Franklin made its first landfall as a tropical storm just before 11 p.m. CDT Monday night near Pulitcub, Mexico, about 180 miles south-southwest of Cozumel.
The center of Franklin continues to move to the west-northwest at about 10 to 15 mph over the Yucatan Peninsula, and will emerge over the Bay of Campeche later this afternoon.

Current Storm Status

Satellite imagery and weather observations indicate that bands of heavy rain with gusty winds are affecting the Yucatan Peninsula. Campeche, Mexico, clocked a wind gust of 46 mph with an outer band of rain that swept through late Monday.

Current Winds

Tropical storm warnings have now been dropped for the eastern Yucatan Peninsula, including Cancún and Cozumel.
A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning has been issued by the government of Mexico ahead of Franklin's second landfall in parts of eastern Mexico's Veracruz state, including the city of Veracruz.

Current Tropical Watches and Warnings

Strong wind gusts from Franklin may cause some localized tree damage and power outages in the Yucatan Peninsula through Tuesday.
Residents of the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize can expect 4 to 8 inches of rain with locally higher amounts, which could result in life-threatening flash flooding. This heavy rain may last into Wednesday, as a north-south oriented plume of thunderstorms on Franklin's eastern half drags through.
(MORE: Water is a Tropical Storm's Deadliest Threat)

Projected Path and Intensity

Franklin will then move into the southwest Gulf of Mexico (Bay of Campeche) by late Tuesday afternoon where it's expected to restrengthen before making a final landfall in eastern Mexico early Thursday.
To what degree it restrengthens is a bit uncertain, due to competing factors of increased wind shear - a negative for strengthening - and very warm heat content in the Bay of Campeche - a positive for strengthening.
Either hurricane or tropical storm-force winds may arrive as soon as late Wednesday along the coast, particularly in Veracruz state.
A storm surge of 2 to 4 feet is possible near and north of the center along the eastern Mexican Bay of Campeche coast late Wednesday night and Thursday morning, before water levels subside after that, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Up to 15 inches of rain may fall in eastern Mexico through Thursday associated with Franklin's final move inland. Flash flooding and mudslides are likely to be major concerns as Franklin grinds across this region's mountainous terrain.

Forecast Rainfall

A year ago, eastern Mexico was ravaged by flooding and mudslides from Tropical Storm Earl which claimed the lives of 81 people.

Franklin No Direct Threat to the U.S.

High pressure in the southern U.S. should remain strong enough that Franklin will not directly affect the U.S.

Franklin Steering

However, high surf, rip currents, and possibly some minor coastal flooding should affect southern Texas on Wednesday and Thursday.
We've now entered the portion of hurricane season when every potential system must be watched closely for development and potential impacts to land. About 80 percent of all hurricanes in the Atlantic have developed from August through October.
(MORE: Most Notorious Part of Hurricane Season is Here)
It has been almost five years since a hurricane made landfall in the United States during August. The last one was Hurricane Isaac, which struck Louisiana on Aug. 28, 2012.
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