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Category 4 hurricane warning issued as Delta makes its way toward Cancun

Cancun, Riviera Maya, Q.R. — In a late night message, Quintana Roo Governor Carlos Joaquín issued a message to all residents asking people to remain calm and take all preventive measures in relation to Hurricane Delta.

The governor has said that starting 8 a.m. Tuesday, official notices will be issued according to the forecasts every three hours. He says that until now, the predicted trajectory indicates that during the early hours of Tuesday to Wednesday, Hurricane Delta will make landfall around Isla Mujeres and Cancun.

He is urging people to be patient and calm, to avoid panic shopping, but to prepare, prevent and take care of ourselves. “Let’s take care of our houses, the place where we live, secure doors and windows, avoid having objects that could become projectiles,” he said.

He added that people should have enough water and non-perishable food for at least three days since fallen poles could affect the supply of electricity.

The State Director of Civil Protection, Adrián Martínez Ortega, said at the beginning of the season, 15 to 19 tropical systems were expected, but they have exceeded this forecast, which is now 26 to 30 for this hurricane season.

“For weeks, we suffered the damage from Cristóbal, then Gamma and now Delta’s forecast, so we continue working to safeguard security against these phenomena, we are preparing for it,” Martínez Ortega detailed.

As of 5:00 a.m. October 6, the government of Mexico has extended the Hurricane Warning westward along the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula to Dzilam. A Hurricane Warning is now in effect for Tulum to Dzilam and Cozumel.

According to State Civil Protection, Hurricane Delta is currently a Category 2, however, it is forecast to reach the Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 4 hurricane, hitting the Cancun, Riviera Maya region around 1:00 a.m. October 7.

The NOAA reports that Hurricane Delta “is in the midst of a very impressive rapid intensification episode, having strengthened over 50 kt during the past 24 hours.” They add that “Delta is moving much faster this morning to the west-northwest, with the latest estimates at about 13 kt.

“Extremely dangerous storm surge and hurricane conditions are expected within portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico beginning tonight, and a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Heavy rainfall will affect portions of the Cayman Islands, western Cuba and the northern Yucatan Peninsula through midweek.”

According to Weather.com, “Delta’s intensification was due to an environment of the highest ocean heat content anywhere in the tropical Atlantic basin, low wind shear and sufficiently moist air, in a region notorious for rapid intensification in October, according to Sam Lillo, a NOAA scientist based in Boulder, Colorado.”

They add “Delta is expected to continue strengthening and may become a major hurricane – at least Category 3 or 4 status – before passing very near Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula – including Cozumel and Cancún – late Tuesday night through Wednesday.

“Peak impacts in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, including Cancún and Cozumel, are expected late Tuesday night through Wednesday. Northeast parts of the peninsula should see destructive winds, heavy rain and storm-surge flooding. After that, forecast guidance suggests that Delta will eventually turn northward toward the U.S. Gulf Coast late in the week.”