Hurricane Dean - Category 5 - Approach to the Yucatan

Hurricane Dean is now a catastrophic Category 5 cyclone; the highest possible designation on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The Yucatan Peninsula has started to feel the effect of approaching Hurricane Dean. Two stations reporting indicate extremely high winds and heavy rain.

At 9:30 p.m. Yucatan time:

Cozumel is reporting 49 knot/57 mph/91 kmh winds from the north-east with gusts to 84 knots/97 mph/156 kmh.

Chetumal is reporting 44 knot/51 mph/82 kmh winds from the north-west with gusts to 72 knots/83 mph/135 kmh.

Hurricane Dean is now moving almost directly west at a speed of 20 knots (23 mph/37 kmh). Landfall is expected early Tuesday morning with emergence, still at hurricane force, in the Bay of Campeche on Tuesday night.



And just when you thought everyone was out of the woods, we have the NHC investigating system 921. This wee mess has the potential to become the next tropical storm, perhaps by the weekend. Keep the name FELIX handy.


NEW INFORMATION HERE. Dean crosses the Yucatan.