Rina Weakens to a Tropical Storm

Storm could bring wind and rain to South Florida

Rina continued to weaken Thursday and was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Rina had maximum sustained winds near 70 mph as it moved west-northwest at 6 mph about 90 miles south of Cozumel, Mexico, according to the latest NHC update.

Rina had been a Category 2 hurricane with winds near 110 mph Wednesday, but  it was expected to keep weakening over the next two days.

A cold front will cause Rina, likely as a tropical storm, to make a sharp right hook and move southward back into the northwestern Caribbean this weekend.  South Florida is no longer in the forecast cone.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for the north and east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Chetumal to Punta Gruesa.

Rina was expected to bring rainfall of as much as 10 inches to the Yucatan Peninsula as well as a storm surge that could raise water levels by as much as three feet.

A very moist air mass will continue to move towards South Florida through the weekend, with  occasional showers and thunderstorms in the forecast for Saturday.  Activity will lighten up on Sunday, but the chance for rain remains in the forecast.

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