With winds measured at 105 mph, Hurricane Delta made landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula this morning (October 7) and is now heading north toward the US Gulf Coast.
It is expected to reach the Gulf Coast in the next few days.
The Hotel Association of Cancun said more than 40,000 tourists were evacuated from resorts in and around Cancun on Tuesday night as the hurricane’s winds topped 145mph before it weakened as it approached land.
About 50 miles south of Cancun the four-star Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya was transformed into an emergency shelter.
Much of Cancun’s hotel zone was cleared out as guests were bused to inland shelters. In Cancun alone, the government opened 160 shelters.
More than 40,000 tourists in Cancun and neighbouring resorts were evacuated.
Delta made landfall roughly halfway between the popular Mexican resort towns of Cancun and Playa del Carmen in Puerto Morelos.
Reports say that once back over open water, Delta will likely strengthen back into a major hurricane before turning north toward the Louisiana coast.
A hurricane watch was issued for parts of the US Gulf Coast from High Island, Texas, eastward to Grand Isle, Louisiana. In addition, tropical storm watches were issued in Texas, including Houston and Galveston Bay, and in Louisiana, including New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.
