Tropical storm warnings had been issued for several major tourist hot spots along Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as Tropical Storm Franklin made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula late yesterday, approximately 290 km south-southwest of Cozumel.
Tropical storm warnings have now been discontinued for the portion of the Yucatan Peninsula from east of Rio Lagartos and southward to Chetumal, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) as the storm moved west-northwest at 22 km/h Tuesday morning after making landfall overnight.
The storm has weakened somewhat as it passed over land, according to Reuters, but could regain strength to hurricane force as it passes over the Bay of Campeche and the southern Gulf of Mexico. If that happens, Franklin would be the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2017 season.
The storm is expected to cross the Gulf of Mexico and the NHC is advising that the government of Mexico has issued a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning for the coast of mainland Mexico from Puerto de Veracruz to Rio Panuco. A watch means that the storm's arrival is possible, whereas a warning indicates that the storm's arrival is expected and/or imminent.
According to The Weather Channel, heavy rainfall and winds in excess of 64 kph had impacted places like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel Monday afternoon as Tropical Storm Franklin bore down on the region Monday.
Amateur video shows tourists watching from the beach as Franklin approached late Monday.
The Government of Canada had issued a travel warning for the region, recommending travellers avoid all non-essential travel, however, that warning is expected to be lifted.
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