Saturday, June 26, 2010

San Pedro Braces for Tropical Storm Alex

The residents of San Pedro Town are busy today preparing for tropical storm Alex which is heading towards Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coast of Belize and the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Chetumal to Cancun and the islands of Roatan, Guanaja and Utila in the Honduras. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the coast of Honduras from Limon westward to the border of Honduras and Guatemala.

Alex is expected to reach Belize around 8PM tonight, move across the Yucatan Peninsula on Sunday and is expected to be in the Bay of Campeche by Sunday night or Monday morning. Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 mph with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is possible before Alex moves inland later today followed by weakening as the cyclone moves over land.

Alex is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over the Yucatan Peninsula, eastern Guatemala and much of Honduras and Belize through Sunday evening. Isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible over mountainous areas. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Water levels along the canals are already rising into the streets.

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