Tropical Storm Franklin is set to make its second landfall in Mexico Thursday morning as the first hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic season.
According to the latest forecast from Accuweather, the storm is projected to hit Mexico a second time south of Tampico and north of Veracruz, Mexico, by early Thursday morning, bringing flooding rain, damaging winds, storm surge and mudslides. Strong rip currents are also expected Wednesday evening, which could pose a danger to swimmers. If the storm does strengthen into a hurricane, wind gusts of at least 90 mph are possible near Veracruz, with sustained winds between 60 and 80 mph. Heavy rain and isolated flooding could be felt as far west as Mexico City.
Franklin first made landfall in Mexico Monday night near Pulticub before heading back out over the Atlantic, forcing authorities to close airports and evacuate low-lying areas. The storm has also disrupted flights and some cruise itineraries in the region.
Flight Updates
Travelers can change their trip with no fee on American Airlines when traveling through Belize City, Belize; Cancun, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; and Merida, Mexico. Travelers must have bought their ticket by August 7 for travel through August 9, and can travel through August 13 between the same city pair in the same cabin (or pay the difference).
United Airlines is waving the change fee and any difference in fare for travel through those same airports, as well as Tampico and Veracruz, Mexico, August 8 – 10, with rebooked travel to depart on or before August 13 in the originally ticketed cabin between the same city pair.
Cruise Itinerary Changes
Tropical Storm Franklin has also forced Carnival Cruise Line to alter itineraries on the Carnival Breeze and Carnival Fantasy, a representative from the cruise line tells Travel Agent.
On Carnival Breeze’s seven-day itinerary from Galveston, instead of calling at Cozumel, Belize and Roatan, Honduras, on August 8 through 10, the ship will call at Roatan, Belize and Cozumel August 9 through 10. The remainder of the days will be spent at sea.
On Carnival Fantasy’s five-day cruise from Mobile, the ship will reverse the order of its Costa Maya and Cozumel calls that were planned for August 9 and 10, calling at Cozumel first instead of Costa Maya.
Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for further updates on this developing story.
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