Delta is predicted to cross Yucatán Peninsula as Category 3 storm

Hurricane Delta strengthened a day earlier than initially expected, and a western swing in the track has the storm crossing the Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday morning.

If it sticks to this path, Delta could be the second storm to cross the region mere days after Tropical Storm Gamma killed at least six people.

The National Hurricane Center predicted that Delta will rapidly intensify into a powerful Category 3 hurricane by late Tuesday as it approaches the Yucatán Peninsula and western Cuba. The northern Yucatán Peninsula and extreme western Cuba will likely see a dangerous storm surge and hurricane conditions beginning Tuesday night.

As of the 8 p.m. Monday update, Delta had 75 mph maximum sustained winds and was headed westnorthwest at 8 mph.

Once in the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters aren’t sure exactly where Delta will go, although the storm is expected to weaken to a Category 2 in the slightly cooler waters. They warned the storm could bring storm surge, rain and wind anywhere from Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle.

“Although there is still significant uncertainty regarding Delta’s intensity when it nears the northern Gulf coast, it is becoming increasingly likely that the system will pose a significant wind and storm surge threat to a portion of that area,” forecasters wrote.

WHERE IS GAMMA GOING?

Forecasters are also watching Gamma, which weakened into a tropical depression Monday afternoon and was expected to become a post-tropical remnant low Monday evening.

The storm killed at least six people in Mexico, including four from a mudslide caused by the intense rain, The Associated Press reported.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, Gamma was about 115 miles northeast of Progreso, Mexico, and about 135 north-northwest of Cozumel, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph. The storm was inching southwest at 5 mph.