Tropical Storm Karl has slowed to a crawl in the Gulf as it heads toward Mexico, where it’s expected to make landfall this weekend.
Karl grew stronger Wednesday, with its maximum sustained winds reaching near 60 mph with higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center’s advisory at 8 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday.
The storm is not a threat to Florida or the rest of the United States.
The storm was about 255 miles north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, and about 290 miles north of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, as of the hurricane center’s 8 p.m. advisory Wednesday. It was crawling north-northeast over the Gulf of Mexico at nearly 3 mph.
Forecasters expect Karl, the 11th named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, to not move much overnight. It is expected to make a slow turn toward Mexico’s coast and gain speed.
The forecast shows Karl as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph once it’s near Mexico.
“Heavy rainfall could produce instances of flash flooding, with mudslides in areas of higher terrain, across portions of Veracruz and Tabasco states in Mexico,” the hurricane center said.
Forecasters expect Karl’s tropical storm-force winds, which extend up to 115 miles from the center, will be felt Friday along Mexico’s coast from Tuxpan to Frontera, which is under a tropical storm watch.
Forecasters expect Karl will bring 3 to 7 inches of rain across portions of Veracruz and Tabasco states in Mexico, with some areas possibly seeing up to 12 inches of rain, through Friday night.
Portions of Chiapas may also see 2 to 4 inches of rain, with some areas possibly seeing up to 6 inches of rain.
Once Karl makes landfall, “rapid weakening and dissipation should occur,” the hurricane center said.
Lisa is the next name on the list for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.
