Helene Becomes a Category 1 Hurricane in the Mexican State of Quintana Roo
Hurricane Helene Track Forecast, Sept. 25, 2024. X/ @nizamtellawi
September 25, 2024 Hour: 12:50 pm
On Thursday, Helene will make landfall in Florida, where it could reach Category 3.
On Wednesday, Mara Lezama, the governor of Quintana Roo, warned about the intensification of Helene as it moves across this Mexican state.
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“The phenomenon moved slightly away from our coasts and is heading north. At this moment, it has just transitioned from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane. We must take all necessary precautions and stay at home,” she said, announcing the suspension of work activities due to the rain.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) reported that Helene was 70 kilometers northeast of Cancun and 135 kilometers east-northeast of Cozumel, in the state of Quintana Roo.
Currently, Helene has sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 155 kilometers per hour, moving northwest at 17 kilometers per hour. As it passes, a hurricane warning zone remains in effect from Cabo Catoche to Tulum, in Quintana Roo, including Cozumel.
Helene will cause “torrential downpours,” ranging from 150 to 250 millimeters, in Yucatan and Quintana Roo, and “very heavy rains,” ranging from 50 to 75 millimeters, in Campeche.
It will also generate wind gusts of 90 to 110 kilometers per hour and waves of 3 to 5 meters in height. Meteorologists also predict wind gusts of 40 to 60 kilometers per hour in Campeche and the possible formation of waterspouts in Quintana Roo and Yucatan.
On Thursday, Helene will make landfall in Florida, where it could reach Category 3. This hurricane follows after John made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the state of Guerrero, where it left deaths, damaged roads, and cut off municipalities.
As a result, the Mexican government has deployed over 18,000 personnel from the Armed Forces and other agencies to the affected area.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE