(Bloomberg) — Hurricane Delta barreled across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, slamming the resort areas of Cancun and Cozumel with strong winds and a dangerous storm surge, knocking out power and threatening to inflict as much as $7 billion in damage and losses.Delta threatens to become the latest in a string of deadly natural disasters in 2020, a year that has been marked by a hyperactive hurricane season, devastating wildfires and a derecho that wreaked havoc across the U.S. Midwest. They’re further evidence that the Earth’s climate is changing, bringing hotter temperatures, stronger storms and more widespread destruction.Though Delta has weakened to a Category 2 hurricane, its winds can still uproot trees, wreck well-built homes and trigger blackouts lasting weeks. After hitting Mexico, the hurricane is forecast to churn through the energy-producing region of the Gulf before likely pummeling Louisiana, which has been struck twice already this year, on Friday.It will be the record 10th tropical storm or hurricane to hit the U.S. in a year. The Atlantic has spawned 25 storms this year, the second most after 2005, when deadly Hurricane Katrina inundated New Orleans. So many have formed that the hurricane center has used up all the names on its official list and has resorted to the Greek alphabet to designate systems.Delta’s loss in power has cut damage estimates for the resort areas of Cancun and Cozumel, said Chuck Watson, a disaster modeler with Enki Research. The storm will likely cause about $7 billion in losses and destruction to the region, much less than earlier estimates but “still a huge mess and a lot of damage.”All time stamps are Eastern Standard.Key Developments:Power Down in Cancun After Hurricane Delta: Mexico OfficialHurricane Delta Poised to Clip Cameron LNG Plant Amid RestartU.S. Gulf Shuts 29% of Oil Output Before Hurricane Delta : BSEEEnbridge Evacuates Louisiana Gas Plant, Gulf Platforms for StormBHP Shutting 2 U.S. Gulf Oil Production Platforms Due to StormDelta Crosses Yucatan as Gulf Coast Gets Storm Watches (11 a.m.)The center of Delta was about to emerge off the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles (169 kilometers) per hour, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.A hurricane watch has been issued for the northern Gulf Coast from High Island, Texas, eastward to Grand Isle, Louisiana.Delta May Strengthen to Category 4 in Gulf (10:33 a.m.)Delta could strengthen into a devastating Category 4 hurricane, with winds of at least 130 mph, as it churns across the Gulf, said Elizabeth Palumbi, a meteorologist with commercial forecaster Maxar.“Delta should re-intensify later today through tomorrow afternoon as it tracks over warmer Gulf waters, increased moisture, and light wind shear,” Palumbi said. “The U.S. Gulf Coast and Gulf production will be impacted starting tomorrow afternoon with Delta attaining category 4 status, but some weakening could occur as it moves closer to the coastline.”Hurricane center estimates currently show Delta reaching 120 mph over the Gulf, which would make it a Category 3.Delta will have to be watched closely as it approaches the Gulf Coast because the combination of speed and mass could allow it to overcome any wind shear and colder water it encounters before landfall in Louisiana, said Jim Rouiller, lead meteorologist at the Energy Weather Group.Energy production areas offshore, as well as refineries and shipping locations from the Sabine Pass to Mississippi, will be at risk, he said.Blackout Hits Cancun After Delta Roars Ashore (9:20 a.m.)Hurricane Delta knocked out power in much of the resort cities of Cancun and Cozumel when it barreled ashore with winds of 110 miles per hour (177 kilometers), a local official said.No deaths have been reported, and damage has been minor, civil protection official Luis Alberto Ortega said Wednesday. More than 39,000 people have been evacuated in the states of Quintana Roo and Yucatan. About 2,700 people are in shelters.Delta Weakens Over Yucatan Peninsula (8 a.m.)Hurricane Delta’s winds weakened to 105 miles (169 kilometers) per hour as it crossed the Yucatan Peninsula just west of Cancun, according to the National Hurricane Center. It’s still a Category 2 hurricane, expected to bring up to 9 feet of storm surge.The storm is forecast to re-strengthen when it moves over the southern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday night into Thursday, and could become a Category 4 hurricane again by late Thursday.Delta Seen Nearing U.S. Gulf Coast as Category 3 (7:56 a.m.)Delta will make its way across the Yucatan Peninsula before entering the Gulf of Mexico later Wednesday, said Paul Walker, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. Once the storm gets over the warm water, it will start to re-strengthen and expand.It will likely be a Category 3 hurricane as it approaches the U.S. Gulf Coast, probably in southwest Louisiana, late Friday, Walker said. Delta’s growth will probably boost the threat of storm surge along the coast, and as much as 12 inches of rain could fall as it moves ashore.“Surge is going to be my biggest concern,” Walker said. “It looks like a major storm as it comes in.”Delta Makes Landfall (6:49 a.m.)Delta came ashore near Puerto Morelos, along the northeastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, as a Category 2 hurricane. Its winds were 110 miles (177 kilometers) per hour as of 6:30 a.m. New York time, the National Hurricane Center said.The center said earlier that the hurricane could bring 8 to 12 feet of storm surge, and 4 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated areas getting 10 inches.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.,
,