Tropical Storm Cristobal strengthened overnight and made landfall in Mexico before turning to the north and emerging in the Gulf of Mexico this weekend.
As of Wednesday at 9:35 a.m., Cristobal’s maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 60 mph with higher gusts, according to forecasters with the National Hurricane Center. The storm made landfall in the state of Campeche, Mexico, and is inching to the southeast at 3 mph.
Cristobal is forecast to create life-threatening flash floods, mudslides, and isolated rain totals of 25 inches in some areas of Mexico before turning to the north and into the Gulf Mexico on Friday.
Portions of the U.S. Gulf Coast, from the Florida Panhandle to Texas, could experience storm surge, heavy rainfall and gusty winds, forecasters said. The storm’s exact track is not yet known, and forecasters say it’s too soon to determine the severity or precise location of those effects. They urge residents to monitor the progress of the storm in the coming days.
Cristobal is forecast to gradually weaken while inland but strengthen once it moves back over water Thursday night and Friday.
Ray Hawthorne, meteorologist with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, says the slow-moving storm is forecast to move north later this week
“Cristobal is likely to weaken over land through Thursday, but I expect it to re-emerge over the Gulf on Friday, where it will have a chance to re-strengthen as it moves toward the Gulf coast this weekend,” Hawthorne said.
Depending on Cristobal’s track once it enters the Gulf of Mexico, the Tampa Bay region could experience an increased sea breeze Thursday along the coast along with showers and thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service. Those storms could generate strong winds, higher than normal tides, and strong currents and rip currents on Saturday.
Information from the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network was used in this report.
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