Latest recon indicates that Richard is now a Cat I Hurricane with sustained surface winds of at least 70-75 knots and pressure has been reported as low as 990MB. Richard is located north northwest of Roatan Island, Honduras, and east of central Belize. At 24/14Z Roatan reported wind gusts to 50 knots. Hurricane Richard is moving west to west northwest at 12mph and with a high pressure ridge to the north northeast, that motion should continue until landfall in Belize this evening. With light shear and SSTs near 30C, some additional intensification is possible before landfall. Rapid weakening is likely as Richard encounters the high terrain of northern Guatemala later Sunday night into Monday morning.

NHC has just upgraded Richard to a hurricane with sustained winds of 75 knots and a pressure of 991MB.

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* BELIZE
* HONDURAS FROM LIMON WESTWARD TO PUERTO CORTES AND THE BAY
ISLANDS...INCLUDING ROATAN...UTILA...AND GUANAJA

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* EAST COAST OF YUCATAN MEXICO FROM PUNTA GRUESA TO CHETUMAL

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* EAST COAST OF YUCATAN MEXICO FROM PUNTA GRUESA TO CHETUMAL
* HONDURAS FROM WEST OF PUERTO CORTES TO THE HONDURAS/GUATEMALA
BORDER

TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE FOR THE CARIBBEAN COAST OF
GUATEMALA.

Weather at Belize City

ED