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Earl becomes the second hurricane of the 2016 Atlantic season

Posted at 10:44 PM, Aug 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-03 22:44:09-04

RICHMOND, Va.  — Alex was an extremely unusual hurricane back in January.  Since then, we have seen Tropical Storms Bonnie, Colin and Danielle.  Earl was a disturbance approaching the Lesser Antilles last weekend, and then strengthened as it moved into the Caribbean Sea.

Earl became the season’s second hurricane just before 5 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.  An Air Force Reconnaissance aircraft flew into the system after 4 p.m. EDT and measured hurricane-force winds.

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The system will continue tracking westward into Belize.  It will weaken once over land, but may strengthen slightly when the center moves over the Bay of Campeche.  The remnants will weaken over south-central Mexico this weekend.

Rainfall totals of 5″ to 10″ will be common across parts of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and the Yucatan Peninsula.  Isolated totals over 15″ are possible and may prompt flash flooding and mud slides.

The latest information can be found in the CBS 6 Hurricane Tracker.