Hurricane Grace strengthens, heading for second hit on Mexico

The National Meteorological Service of Mexico predicted Grace would make landfall late August 20 or early August 21 between the Veracruz state towns of Tecolutla and Nautla, with winds between 154 kmph and 177 kmph.

Hurricane Grace strengthened into a Category 2 storm August 20 as it headed for a second landfall in Mexico, this time taking aim at the Gulf coast after crashing through the country’s main tourist strip. The storm lost punch as it zipped across the Yucatan Peninsula, but it emerged late August 19 over the relatively warm Gulf of Mexico and was gaining energy. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Grace had maximum sustained winds of 161 kmph early August 20 evening. It was centered about 170 km northeast of the port of Veracruz and was heading west at 17 kmph.