Riviera Maya, Q.R. — With less than 1,200 kilometers left to go, the National Coordination of Civil Protection changed the Quintana Roo alert to yellow. The change came at the same time the NOAA issued a hurricane warning for the coast.
Governor Mara Lezama reported that according to the Conagua, Hurricane Beryl remains a Category 4 and is located less than 1,200 kilometers from Cancun. It is moving at 30 kilometers per hour with sustained winds of 225 and gusts of 270 kilometers per hour.
While it does not yet represent a danger for the state, officials have released a hurricane watch for Quintana Roo. “A hurricane force wind watch is in effect from Cancun to Puerto Costa Maya (Mahahual),” Lezama said.
On Wednesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Centre issued a (red) hurricane warning along a majority of the Quintana Roo coast from Cancun to Mahahual. Hurricane and tropical storm watches are in effect for areas around Holbox and Chetumal.
The National Civil Protection Department reported that the change of color to yellow means that authorities will set up municipal Civil Protection councils and prepare temporary shelters. The population must identify the closest ones to their homes and take all preventive measures.
Governor Leama reported that officials decided to evacuate Punta Herrero and Santa Elena, as of yesterday, and Punta Allen today, as a preventive measure and also considering that they are low-lying areas susceptible to damage.
Lezama said islanders of Holbox are welcome to vacate on a voluntary basis and the shelters will be available for those who decide to do so.
Hurricane Beryl is expected to weaken during today and tomorrow to a Category 3 hurricane. It is expected to approach the coast of Quintana Roo as a Category 2 and make landfall south of Tulum.
According to the forecast, the impact on Quintana Roo territory is expected to be on Thursday night or Friday morning. Hurricane force winds are expected in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Tulum and Bacalar, and tropical storm force winds in José María Morelos, Othón P. Blanco, Lázaro Cárdenas and Isla Mujeres.
The current weather conditions around the region are blue skies and sunshine with temperatures ranging from 31C to 36C (88F to 97F).
