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Tropical Storm Hits Mexico With Wind, Rain

Posted on: Friday, 11 July 2003, 06:00 CDT

Tropical Storm Claudette skimmed the northeast tip of the Yucatan peninsula and the resort of Cancun early Friday, battering high-rise hotels with high winds and pounding the popular resort coast with rain.

The storm never became a hurricane, as previously predicted, and the strongest winds and rain appeared to be out at sea. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 55 mph and was moving northwest at 14 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Officials said they did not expect major flooding from the storm, which was predicted to move back out into the Gulf of Mexico and possibly build strength.

Authorities in Cancun decided not to evacuate tourists, but civil defense officials in Tulum, 80 miles south, advised hotel owners to evacuate guests staying at beach-side cabins there.

About 25 guests were asked to leave the wood-and-thatch huts at Tulum's El Mirador hotel, said manager Asael Concha. Hotel employees also dragged wooden furniture up off the beach.

"It's not safe, really," Concha said. "This way there won't be any problems."

But even as the storm neared the coast, more disappointed backpackers showed up, only to be told they'd have to look for lodging farther inland.

"We hope it's all over soon," said college student Susi Huber, 24, of Germany, at El Mirador.

In the nearby resort of Playa del Carmen, employees at the Los Tres Nietos supermarket reinforced store windows with masking tape, while Maria Solis, 31, loaded up on supplies, including baby food, plastic cups and dried milk.

Solis' fisherman husband had to take his boat out of the water because of the bad weather.

"We listen to the radio and pray to God that it passes," said Solis, accompanied by her two sons. "In the meantime, our income suffers."

Claudette, the third tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, developed Tuesday in the Caribbean. Before heading toward Mexico it brushed Jamaica's southern coast with heavy rain and rough surf, battered the Cayman Islands with dangerous waves and above-normal tides and scattered rain over parts of Cuba.

Royal Caribbean International diverted three cruise ships because of the storm, spokesman Michael Sheehan said.

Experts have predicted a busy Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and ends Nov. 30.

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