Earl reaching hurricane strength as it heads for Belize

By Michelle Nurse On Aug 3, 2016

BELIZE CITY, Belize, Wednesday August 3, 2016 – Tropical Storm Earl is gaining strength and is expected to be a hurricane when it makes landfall in Belize either tonight or early tomorrow.

Its maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 miles per hour with higher gusts. At 8 a.m., Earl was 265 miles east southeast of Belize City and 120 miles east of Isla Roatan, Honduras, and is moving towards the west near 14 miles per hour with some decrease in forward speed during the next 48 hours.

“Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and Earl is likely to become a hurricane later today,” the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said this morning.

“On the forecast track, the core of Earl is expected to pass near the Honduras Bay Islands this afternoon, and then make landfall in Belize tonight or early Thursday…Weakening is expected after the center of Earl moves inland.”