Tropical Storm Arthur making a Yucatan Appearance

[Gale in KY]

I feel really bad for anyone visiting in the area today..here's the latest

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/flt/t1/rgb-l.jpg

TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR ADVISORY NUMBER 2
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL012008
500 PM EDT SAT MAY 31 2008

...ARTHUR MOVING SLOWLY OVER YUCATAN...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE COAST OF BELIZE
AND FOR THE COAST OF YUCATAN FROM CABO CATOCHE SOUTHWARD TO THE
BORDER WITH BELIZE.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 500 PM EDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 88.9 WEST OR ABOUT 75
MILES...125 KM...NORTHWEST OF BELIZE CITY AND ABOUT 195 MILES...315
KM...SOUTHWEST OF COZUMEL MEXICO.

ARTHUR IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH...11 KM/HR...
AND A GRADUAL TURN TOWARD THE WEST IS EXPECTED TOMORROW. ON THIS
TRACK...THE CENTER OF ARTHUR COULD EMERGE OVER THE BAY OF CAMPECHE
SUNDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS MAINLY OVER WATER EAST OF THE CENTER. ARTHUR IS EXPECTED TO
WEAKEN TO A DEPRESSION TONIGHT...BUT IT COULD THEN REGAIN TROPICAL
STORM STRENGTH IF IT EMERGES OVER THE BAY OF CAMPECHE.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 260 MILES...415 KM
TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1005 MB...29.68 INCHES.

ARTHUR IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10
INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF BELIZE...GUATEMALA...AND THE YUCATAN
PENINSULA WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 15 INCHES. THESE RAINS COULD
CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES...ESPECIALLY IN
MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Reports are Arthur has passed over Xcalak, but wind and surf are up in Akumal/Tulum

At Lol-ha
http://forums.locogringo.com/forums/upfiles/3468/6D920FB867994CCD86112F228F73ABF0.jpg

It currently looks rough on the webcam, but I can't seem to capture a shot..see for yourself..

http://www.locogringo.com/Upload/akumal-beach-cam.html

Hurricane season begins tomorrow. Be safe everyone!

[PhyllisB]

YIKES!!!!!!

Well looks like we've got three TI folks down there (at least 3 who used the calendar)... think, J&C, and NYCneedsthebeach (who supposedly left today)!!!!

Hope folks are safely riding out the storm with a few cervezas and some good eats!

[DougSR]

Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that hurricane seasion doesn't start until June 1!

[NWCreoleLady]

Yeah, no kidding! I hope it settles down before we arrive next month.....chances are we could run into some of this then too. :eek: Last Labor Day weekend we spent on the Pacific Coast in a tropical storm.....actually we were safe, but it was amazing to watch.

[minniemex]

I looked on the web cam at Akumal Bay and it was still pretty overcast and windy!! I hope our board members down there are finding things to do with such bad weather!!

[Helly]

It actually turned out to be FANTASTIC to us (although we didn't know it had a name until Sunday...ahh, to be oblivious and disconnected in Tulum!), but we did have a beautiful beginning to our week and the real rain didn't start until Friday. Our friends who arrived on Wed. (5/28) really didn't get any sunny beach days like we did and snorkeling except in cenotes was pretty much out of the question south of Cancun (we went to Akumal on Saturday, 5/31, and snorkeled at Yal-ku which was beautiful, but murky).

Anyway...the waves were amazing and high and the wind was even stronger than usual (or what was usual for us early in the week). One of the other people staying with us at La Luna (hi, Carol!) watched the satellite "progression" of the storm for a few days on her iPhone and there was a big red spot (the worst of the storm) just sitting there for a few days off the coast a little south of us.

We loved the wind and weather...and Coba in a tropical rainstorm? Wow. But, wait, I need to save this for my TR!!!!! :)

[beachreader]

Ooooh, such a tease! Great, I love a teaser with a TR in the works!!!:D

[Margoinmexico]

I always feel a little guilty at how much I enjoy the storms..........and we really need the rain! :cool:;):cool:

[Gale in KY]

Glad to know you got some much needed rain Margo..but from some of the surf pics I have seen...wow..amazing power of Mother Nature. I am the flora got a much needed drink of rain..lol.

We on the other hand, can't get it to stop raining...after last years terrible drought. Today was tornado warnings and blasting thunderstorms with golf ball size hail. I can always pass on that kind of weather..lol.

[Margoinmexico]

We did need the rain, everything looks great. The trees are all washed and green, the flowers popping out, the high waves washed the sea grass and trash higher up on the beach, so the sand is looking extremely white.....very nice. Got some great sunrise shots this morning but having trouble with my computer still, just super slow now, so don't want to attempt photos right now....just close your eyes and imagine!!!:sun::star::D:star::sun:

BTW, I'm not too good at checking the weather forcasts, I literally have not participated in the news in over 13 years...........So if there were to be a really bad storm heading my way, would you let me know? :crossfingers::bullseye::crossfingers:

[La Luna]

Hola Margo,

I will keep you posted about the weather forecasts..... I will let you know when to run, hide, or sit down and relax!!!!

I am finally back in Holland after traveling all the way down to Panama City...
After seeing so many beaches I must admit that the beaches at Tulum definitely belongs to the best in the world!!!!

Life is great and I love it!

Hasta luego

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:Welcome home Rene..........how's it feel to be back in Holland after so much time away?

I think a trip report on Central America may be in order? I'd love to hear about your travels! Where was the best food, nicest people and best beach??? (besides Tulum I mean). :sun:

[think]

Ahhhhhhh. Nothing like a Tropical Storm when you're staying in a tent on top of the dune, probably less than 50 feet from the water :) Even with our friend Arthur, we had a blast. I managed to fill up 3 gigs worth of memory cards. TR coming soon :)

[Gale in KY]

Welcome back Think! I was worried for you, glad to hear your trip was a success despite the appearance of Arthur.

Margo..we will keep our eyes pealed for approaching weather..there is a website called StormCaribe that has "reporters" who live in the places they report from..check it out, you could do a Boca Paila report live from the scene..lol.

I would LOVE a trip report Rene..Panama has always been a dream destination for me..I would love to hear about your travels...and about home too..would love a HOME report about Holland!

[minniemex]

Welcome back Think!! Thought about you during the storm:eek: Glad to hear all was well ~ will anticipate your report & pictures!!

Rene ~ glad to hear you are home and well!! Would love to see pictures & hear stories from your wanderings!!

[Villa Mirage]

Hello to Helly and Gonzo, our La Luna neighbors! Yes, it's Carol the weather-woman! We have to admit we had a great time in Tulum in spite of Arthur (though we didn't get the nice upfront days like you did). I've been enjoying your TR, hope your wrist is okay! I will post a shorter version of ours, since it was mostly searching for hurricane parties (none found), mixed with lots of reading, eating and drinking! But we met some great people at La Luna, which made it all worth while in spite of the weather.

This is my first post, trying it out, will go back and introduce myself as well as post a TR!

[Helly]

Hi Carol!! :wave: So fun to run into you here!! Glad to hear you're back safe and sound...Aaron and Brooke said that their last morning (last Wed.) was nice weather. Will check in on you at your trip report... :beerchug: