Riviera Maya, Q.R. — A low pressure system that succeed in developing into a named storm is forecast to hit Florida as a hurricane. Over the weekend, the eastern Yucatan Peninsula has been soaked with the slow passing of a system that developed off the coast of Honduras last week.
As the system continued to make its way up the coast through the Caribbean toward the Gulf of Mexico, it developed into Tropical Storm Idalia. On Sunday, Idalia became a named storm when it was located approximately 135 kilomerters east-southeast of Cozumel.
During its passing, the system has dumped heavy rains in every municipality of Quintana Roo. Streets from Chetumal to Isla Mujeres have been drenched, and in some cases, even flooded. Street lights were affected in several busy areas of Cancun.
On Saturday, Cozumel Mayor Juanita Alonso Marrufo had city personnel from Directorate of Civil Protection out in susceptible areas prior to the arrival of the system. City workers were busy clearing storm drains in preparation for the expected heavy rainfall.
Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to finish passing the Cozumel-Cancun regions of the state early Monday.
The National Hurricane Centre is forecasting Idalia to develop further into a hurricane by early Tuesday before it reaches the west coast of Florida Wednesday.