Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Cancún area braces for Hurricane Helene

Helene strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane Wednesday morning, as it moved past the Quintana Roo coast toward the Gulf of Mexico.

At 9 a.m. CST, the eye of the hurricane was centered 70 km northeast of Cancún and 135 km north-northeast of Cozumel, moving north-northeast at 17 km/h, according to the National Meteorological Service (SMN). Helene has sustained winds of 130 km/h with gusts of up to 155 km/h.

Streets were flooded and power outages were reported in many areas of Cancún on Tuesday as Hurricane Helene gained strength in the Caribbean Sea.
Streets were flooded and power outages were reported in many areas of Cancún on Tuesday as Hurricane Helene gained strength in the Caribbean Sea. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

A hurricane warning is in effect from Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Quintana Roo, including Cozumel. Meanwhile, a tropical storm warning is active from Lagartos, Yucatán, to Cabo Catoche, Quintana Roo.

The SMN warned of wind gusts of up to 110 km/h on the eastern coast of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, waves of three to five meters high and the possible formation of waterspouts. The coast of Campeche could experience wind gusts of up to 60 km/h.

Helene brought torrential downpours (150-250 mm of rainfall) to Quintana Roo and Yucatán, and heavy showers (50-75mm) to Campeche on Tuesday. The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned of “potentially significant flooding across the northeastern Yucatán Peninsula into early Thursday.”

Weather authorities recommended that Yucatán Peninsula residents and marine vessel operators take extreme precautions and pay close attention to Civil Protection alerts and recommendations.

Helene formed over the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday morning and quickly grew in strength, fueled by warm waters off the Gulf Coast.

The slow moving giant is expected to gain speed and reach a size of nearly 700 km across on Thursday. Since 2000, there have been only four named storms that grew to be as large as Helene is predicted to become. Helene is forecast to reach Category 2 strength Wednesday evening around 6 p.m. and Category 3 strength Thursday morning around 6 a.m., the SMN reported.

The storm is generating tropical storm conditions in Cuba, with hurricane conditions possible within the hurricane watch area, the NHC reported. In the United States, residents of northern Florida and southern Georgia are bracing for hurricane-force winds on Thursday with a substantial storm surge (over three meters in some areas) expected to cause flooding along Florida’s western coast.

Meanwhile on Mexico’s Pacific coast, John, which had weakened into a tropical depression after hitting Guerrero as a Category 3 hurricane on Tuesday, moved back out to sea and is strengthening again. Tropical Storm John is currently 170 km south of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, with sustained winds of 65 km/h.

With reports from El Universal and Meteored

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
Fonatur glorieta in Los Cabos

MND Local: Major infrastructure projects reflect growing pains in Los Cabos

0
New airport facilities and new highways are on the way in Los Cabos, as our local news roundup takes a look at what's happening in Baja California Sur.
mural honoring Alicia Matías

A mural at explosion site in CDMX honors Alicia Matías, who died saving her granddaughter

1
The 49-year-old heroine's death has been met with an outpouring of admiration while the nation mourns the 15 victims of last week's gas tanker explosion.
Sheinbaum waving the Mexican flag from the National Palace during the annual Grito de Independencia

In first ‘Grito’ as president, Sheinbaum honors Mexico’s heroines of Independence

10
Josefa Ortiz Téllez Girón, Leona Vicario, Gertrudis Bocanegra and Manuela Molina were all included in Sheinbaum's first presidential Grito, or Cry of Independence.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity