Tropical Storm Karl Strikes Yucatan

Tropical Storm Karl made landfall this morning on the Yucatan peninsula near the Mexico/Belize border. Karl had winds as high as 65 MPH and hot as a strong tropical storm. It is expected to weaken as it crosses the Yucatan today. Once re-emerging in the Bay of Campeche, Karl will strengthen once again.

UPDATE 1-Tropical Storm Karl makes landfall in Mexico(Reuters Africa)

MEXICO CITY, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Karl made landfall near Chetumal, Mexico, on Wednesday and was expected to steer west across the Yucatan peninsula to re-emerge in the southern Gulf of Mexico close to oil fields in the Campeche sound.

Karl, the 11th named storm of the season, had winds of 65 miles per hour/(100 kph) with higher gusts as of 7:45 a.m./(1245 GMT). Its center was expected to cross the Yucatan on Wednesday and re-enter the Gulf of Mexico after nightfall.

"Restrengthening is forecast on Thursday after Karl moves over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico where Karl is likely to become a hurricane," the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Upon reaching water again, Karl was likely to miss U.S. oil and natural gas rigs in the northern part of the Gulf although forecasters said it may hit Mexican oil rigs.