Franklin Intensifying To Hurricane A Day Before Veracruz Landfall

AUGUST 9, 2017, WEDNESDAY 

Tropical storm Franklin which weakened to 35 knots winds as it crossed the Yucatan is intensifying again.

#Franklin landfall in 36 hours, August 10 early hours near Papalanta de Olarte, Alamo. Question is a little storm or a category 1 hurricane? pic.twitter.com/MVQ8ntuElv

— XWF WEATHER (@WeatherXwf) August 9, 2017

A National Hurricane Center bulletin issued at 1 AM EDT, 6 AM UTC says Franklin is throwing winds of 50 knots and strengthening.

NHC expects #Franklin to turn into a hurricane. HMON model predicts rapid intensification to 975 mb, 75 knots winds at Veracruz impact pic.twitter.com/hpFsduztR9

— XWF WEATHER (@WeatherXwf) August 9, 2017

A cause for worry for the Mexican government, as the hurricane is likely to hit Veracruz state shortly after midnight in the early hours of Thursday, local time.

Some forecast models are predicting a 975 mb storm at impact with winds 75-80 knots. That is sustained winds of 130km/h, gusts upto 160 km/h.