Tropical Storm Franklin hits Mexico. Could it be the first Atlantic hurricane of 2017?
Tropical Storm Franklin has weakened after making landfall Monday evening near Pulitcub, Mexico, but forecasters say this storm is just getting started.
As of 1 p.m. Monday, the storm system was moving 40 miles east of Campeche, Mexico and was moving west-northwest at 12 mph, with sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Franklin is forecast to move through the Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday, and should move back over water Tuesday evening, where it could gain strength.
A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning has been issued from Puerto de Veracruz to Rio Panuco, while a tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Sabancuy, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical weather track
Source: National Hurricane Center
Rainfall amounts of three to six inches, with isolated amounts around 12 inches, are possible across the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Belize through Wednesday, with the highest amounts over the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.
Franklin is expected to bring four to eight inches of rainfall with isolated amounts up to 15 inches through Thursday to parts of eastern Mexico, bringing danger of flashfloods and mudslides.
Hurricane conditions are possible by late Wednesday, where Franklin is projected to make a second landfall in Mexico. Wind gusts of at least 80 mph are possible near coastal regions of northern Veracruz if Franklin becomes a hurricane, according to AccuWeather.
High pressure in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to prevent Franklin from hitting the U.S, but surf, rip currents, and possibly some minor coastal flooding should affect Texas on Wednesday and Thursday, according to The Weather Channel.
Another system in the middle of the Atlantic between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles has increased to a 30 percent chance of it becoming a tropical storm in the next five days.
This story was originally published August 8, 2017 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Tropical Storm Franklin hits Mexico. Could it be the first Atlantic hurricane of 2017?."