12 September, 2017
During peak hurricane season - right now - it's not at all uncommon to see one, two, or in this case, three tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic.
Hurricane Katia has made landfall 20 kilometers from Tecolutla and hit as a Category 1.
"The northern Leeward Islands are at risk of contending with enhanced showers and tropical-storm-force conditions this weekend, which could hinder Irma recovery efforts", AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller said.
Hurricane warnings have now been issued for Barbuda and Anguilla, which were hard-hit by Irma when it was at its peak intensity with 185 miles per hour winds.
He has also ordered the closure of schools, colleges, universities, and government offices from Friday until Monday and also said that people must be ready to evacuate if the situation worsens.
Katia grew into a storm with sustained hurricane-force winds Wednesday afternoon, but forecasters say the storm will stay over the east coast of Mexico with no anticipated impact to Florida.
Hurricane Jose, another Cape Verde storm, is following in the wake of Irma, but it's projected to travel along a more northerly path. Jose is expected to swing north by Sunday, at which time it could be a major hurricane, a Category 3 or more.
Saint Barthelemy is a French overseas island in the West Indies while nearby Saint Martin is a half-French half-Dutch island. Hurricane watches, meaning sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher are possible, have been in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Sint Maarten and St. Martin.
Only 26 minutes separated the announcements of Irma and Katia making landfall.
It lost some strength before it landed about 185 km northwest of the port city of Veracruz as a Category 1 storm with sustained winds 120 km/h.
These warm ocean waters help to feed and grow tropical storms and hurricanes.
A Hurricane Watch could be required for portions of the Mexican state of Veracruz later today.
Call it the summer of storms-there are now three hurricanes swirling around the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
