The sixth named storm of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season developed Sunday night in the western Caribbean Sea. Newly-formed Tropical Storm Franklin is expected to make landfall Monday night near or just north of Chetumal, Mexico. It could then emerge over the Bay of Campeche and strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall a second time along the Gulf Coast of northeast Mexico Wednesday or Thursday. Tropical Storm Franklin is no threat to Florida or the United States.
TropicalStorm Warnings have been issued for the entire Yucatan Peninsula, and a Hurricane Watch is also in effect in parts of the Mexican state Quintana Roo. The first landfall is likely to produce winds up to 70 mph and rainfall amounts of up to 12 inches in these areas. Gusty winds and heavy rain are also expected further north in the popular resort destinations of Cozumel and Cancun.
Even though land interactions will likely result in some weakening Tuesday, Tropical Storm Franklin could rapidly re-strengthen when it emerges over the warm waters in the Bay of Campeche Wednesday. It may even briefly become a hurricane before making its final landfall in northeast Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said in a statement Sunday night. Other than large ocean swells and an increase in surf along the southeast Texas coast, no direct impacts to the United States are expected at this time from Tropical Storm Franklin.
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