Hurricane Paula forms, heads to Yucatan Peninsula
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras
Paula formed Monday off the coast of Honduras and quickly
intensified into a hurricane early Tuesday, said the National
Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida.
It had winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was centered about 230
miles (370 kilometers) south-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico.
Paula was expected to dump from 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15
centimeters) of Honduras, northern Belize, eastern portions of the
Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and parts of western and central Cuba.
The government of Mexico issued a hurricane warning for the
country's Caribbean coast from Punta Gruesa north to Cabo Catoche,
including the island of Cozumel. Warnings are issued when hurricane
conditions are almost certain to occur.
A tropical storm warning was issued for Limon eastward toward
the border with Nicaragua.
Forecasters warned of possible flooding and landslides and
suggested residents avoid fishing trips or water sports.
Forecasters said the storm would produce heavy rains that could
cause flash floods and mudslides, especially in the mountains of
Nicaragua and Honduras. It said isolated, mountainous areas in
Honduras could get as many as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain.
Coastal flooding from heavy waves was also expected along the
eastern coast of the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula and the Bay Islands
of Honduras.
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