Tropical Storm Alex Update for Cancun, Playa Del Carmen y La Riviera Maya including Cozumel and Isla Mujeres.
This is an intermediate report based on new information and changes in direction, speed and potential strike areas of Tropical Storm Alex.
As I mentioned in the earlier report I expect that Tropical Storm Alex will come ashore in the next 12 to 18 hours between Belize and Chetumal in a direction to cross the South East of Mexico and emerge into the Gulf of Mexico at the Bay of Campeche.
Just a little while ago Alex picked up a little forward speed as well as wind speed as he is nearing the coastline. Although currently it is not raining in Cancun it is raining with heavy downpours at times in Playa del Carmen and heavier rain in Southern Quintana Roo. The rains from Tropical Storm Alex outer bands even extend across to western Cuba and the Cayman Islands.
Areas of Concern for Mexico from Alex
We continue to expect heavy rain and thunderstorms as well as wind and elevated sea levels bringing local flooding to low areas as well as beach erosion from Chetumal to Cancun where we can expect seas to be 6 to 8 feet above normal and higher as we move further south toward the center of Tropical Storm Alex. Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and the area of The Riviera Maya from Playa south to the border with the Costa Maya will not be hit by the storm but we will be struck by the heavy rain and winds.
This heavy precipitation will likely continue for the next 36 hours as Alex moves across the interior of the Yucatan Peninsula and out to the Bay of Campeche.
Here is a rain accumlation prediction compiled by the Meteorlogical Office in Mexico for the next 7 days.
Rain Accumulation Map for the period June 26, 2010 to July 4, 2010