The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) has upgraded Tropical Storm Grace to a category one hurricane.
In the 11 am update, the NHC said Grace has maximum sustained winds that are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the centre of Hurricane Grace and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km).
Grace’s centre of circulation is about 65 miles (105 km) west of Grand Cayman and about 350 miles (560 km) east of Tulum, Mexico.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
•Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Cancun to Punta Herrero, including Cozumel
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
•The Cayman Islands
•The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from north of Cancun to Campeche
•The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from south of Punta Herrero to Puerto Costa Maya
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
•The Southern coast Cuban province of Pinar del Rio, as well as Isla de la Juventud
NHC expects Grace to strengthen further before it reaches the eastern section of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The hurricane will then weaken while it moves over the landmass.
The hurricane is expected to re-strengthen when it enters the southwest Gulf of Mexico on Friday.