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Quintana Roo island evacuations begin as Milton intensifies into a category 5 with 330 km/h gusts

Holbox, Q.R. — Voluntary evacuations on the island of Holbox have begun after Milton took on category 5 status. Around 2:00 p.m. Cancun time, Milton, which is approximately 170 km west-northwest of Progreso, Yucatan, was reported packing sustained winds of 280 kms/h and gusts of 330 kms/h.

The Weather Channel image of Milton heading toward the Yucatan Peninsula early Monday afternoon.

The evacuation is also part of a slight trajectory change that now has Milton forecast to touch Mexican land as it passes through the Gulf of Mexico. The northwestern tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is likely to be hit hardest by Milton as its bands dip over land before veering north again into the Gulf.

Weather Underground forecasts a slight dip into Mexico Monday.

That slight dip in the updated trajectory by Weather Underground will bring Milton’s devastating winds dangerously close to the island of Holbox.

In the meantime, Milton will pass over the Yucatan Peninsula now as a category 5 storm. Winds, torrential rain and waves of 6 to 8 meters high are expected along the coasts of Campeche (north) and Yucatan, while gusts of 100 to 120 kms/h and waves of 4 to 6 meters high are forecast for the coasts of Veracruz and Tabasco, and 80 to 100 kms/h with waves of 3 to 5 meters high on the coasts of Tamaulipas and Quintana Roo.

Authorities are on Isla Holbox assisting with voluntary evacuations Monday before the arrival of Milton.

The approaching storm has the northern Yucatan Peninsula on orange (medium) alert, an alert that is likely to be increased to red (high) as the afternoon wears on. Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama is on the island assisting with the evacuation efforts, including those of pets.

Truck loads of pets are being evacuated from the island and taken to the mainland where they will be cared for.

Crates of dogs and cats are being trucked off the island of Holbox ahead of Milton.

Ferries that provide services in northern Quintana Roo have announced a temporary suspension until port authorities allow them to operate again. However, ferry services are still available as of early Monday as people vacate the island of Holbox ahead of Milton.

Bus company ADO have also temporarily suspended northern services departing from Cancun as of Tuesday.

The neighboring island of Isla Mujeres remains on a yellow (medium) alert from Civil Protection.

Milton has picked up speed and is now traveling at 15 kms/h. With that change, AccuWeather now predicts the effects of Milton will end for Cancun late Tuesday night instead of early Wednesday morning as forecast earlier today when Milton was still traveling at 9 kms/h.

According to the Weather Channel, category 5 Milton continues to gain strength as it travels in the Gulf of Mexico, however, wind sheer is expected to take away some of that strength and reduce Milton to a category 3 before making Florida Peninsula landfall Wednesday evening.