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Will Hurricane Grace affect the US? Tropical storm strengthens with winds up to 80 mph

As per the latest update from the NHC as of  11 pm on August 18, Hurricane Grace is rapidly approaching the Yucatan Peninsula

Hurricane Grace has become the second hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. As per the latest reports, it is headed west across the Caribbean toward the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, where, on early Thursday morning, August 19, 2021, it is expected to make landfall with strong winds and dangerous storm surge, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. 

Grace is reportedly starting to show signs of strengthening with winds now up to 80 mph. According to The Air Force Reserve and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft, the storm is becoming better organized with a more defined inner core on Wednesday night, August 18, 2021, according to the hurricane center. 

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"Hurricane Grace on is Yucatan approach," one user wrote, sharing a gif of the hurricane. 

Reports say that the storm will likely weaken over land and strengthen again when it moves over the southwest Gulf of Mexico on Friday, August 20, 2021, according to the NHC. A tropical system is classified as a hurricane when sustained winds reach or exceed 74 mph.

As per the latest update from the NHC as of  11 pm on August 18, Hurricane Grace is approaching the Yucatan Peninsula and is about 125 miles east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico. "#Grace is now a #hurricane - the 2nd of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season to date. The long-term (1991-2020) average 2nd Atlantic hurricane formation date is August 25," Philip Klotzbach, meteorologist at CSU specializing in Atlantic basin seasonal hurricane forecasts said on Twitter. 

Reports had previously revealed that some additional strengthening is to be expected before the center of Grace reaches the eastern Yucatan Peninsula. Weakening will occur while the center moves over the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday, August 19, 2021, with restrengthening expected when Grace moves over the southwest Gulf of Mexico on Friday, August 20, 21. 

To sum it up, location of Hurricane Grace is 125 miles east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico, its maximum sustained winds is at 80 mph and its movement is west at 18 mph. 

Who will be impacted? 

Hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico late tonight or early Thursday, with tropical storm conditions beginning as early as this evening.

"While the tropics remain active with Grace and Henri, neither are forecasted to come anywhere close to the northern Gulf...WOOO! However, they still cant leave us alone as waves from Grace could make the trek across the Gulf leading to an increase in rip current risk Friday!" NWSMobile tweeted. 

Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared during what's expected to be an active hurricane season.

Twitter user Tropical Nick Underwood captured the storm. "I captured a lot of great imagery during our flight to Hurricane #Grace yesterday, so I'll share them all in a thread here, starting with this time-lapse of our first two of three passes through the storm. The first eye is around 0:26, and the second around 1:45."