Hurricane Grace back in the Gulf of Mexico

HOUSTON — The KHOU 11 Weather team and National Hurricane Center is tracking two different systems in the tropics right now — Hurricane Grace and Tropical Storm Henri.

As of 4:50 a.m. Houston time Thursday, Hurricane Grace was officially making landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, just south of Tulum.

By Thursday evening, Grace had re entered the southern Gulf of Mexico, where it is expected to strengthen back up to a Cat 1 Hurricane.

Grace is heading west across the southern Gulf.  From there it will continue to move west to make another landfall near Veracruz, Mexico late Friday night into early Saturday morning — in the overnight hours.

Get the key messages/updates from the National Hurricane Center below.

From the National Hurricane Center:

1. Hurricane conditions and a dangerous storm surge are expected in portions of the Hurricane Warning area in the eastern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico during the next several hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. 

2. There is an increasing risk of hurricane conditions and dangerous storm surge in portions of eastern mainland Mexico beginning late Friday, and a Hurricane Watch is in effect for part of this area. 

3. Through the weekend, heavy rainfall across central and northern portions of the Yucatan Peninsula and Veracruz State should lead to flash and urban flooding. In addition, the heavy rainfall from Grace will be capable of producing mudslides in Veracruz. 

RELATED: Watch the full KHOU 11 special — ‘Hurricane Season: Staying Weather Smart’

Henri has maximum sustained winds at 65 mph. The system is expected to turn to the north and head for the New England coast this weekend as a Cat 1 Hurricane.