Mexico: Authorities issue weather warnings as Tropical Storm Zeta nears Yucatan Peninsula October 25 /update 1

Event

Tropical Storm Zeta has strengthened in the northwest Caribbean Sea throughout the day on Sunday, October 25, and is expected to become a Category-1 hurricane and make landfall on or near the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula early on Tuesday, October 27. Mexican authorities have consequently issued a hurricane warning from Tulum to Rio Lagartos (Quintana Roo state). Hurricane conditions are expected in the area by late Monday. As of the US National Hurricane Center's 17:00 (EDT) update on October 25, Zeta has maximum sustained winds of 50mph (80 kph) and is forecast to become a hurricane over the next 24-hours. 

Context

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from late May through to the end of November, with activity typically peaking in late August and early September. Numerous tropical storms form in the Atlantic Ocean during this period, with most affecting the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the east coast of the United States. Although communities in the region are generally well prepared for adverse weather conditions during the hurricane season, severe storms bring a significant risk of flooding and infrastructural damage.

Organized tropical activity tends to peak in August and September. Storms tend to flood sections of highways and cause dirt-based roads to become temporarily impassable. More organized systems, depending on intensity, can prove catastrophic in terms of tidal surge, wind damage, flooding, and mudslides.

Advice

Those in Mexico are advised to monitor local weather reports, avoid areas directly affected by flooding, confirm road conditions before setting out, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities.