Tropical Storm Nana continues to gain strength in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday (September 2), and forecasters at the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) expect the system to reach category one status by tonight.

According to a 10:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST)

advisory, Tropical Storm Nana was located at 17.1 north, 84.6 west—or roughly

230 kilometres east-northeast of Roaton Island, Honduras.

The system is moving westerly at 28 kilometres/hour and

currently packs maximum sustained winds near 95 kilometres/hour, with higher

gusts.

In the meantime, the Government of Belize has activated a

hurricane warning as the NHC, in its forecast, anticipates Nana will develop

into a hurricane ahead of landfall later Wednesday night.

The hurricane warning extends along the entire coast of

Belize, from the old capital Belize City southward to the Belize-Guatemala border.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for the section of

the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal as well as

the Guatemala’s entire Caribbean Sea coastline.

Additionally, Honduras as declared a tropical storm watch is

in effect for the Central American country’s northern coast, from Punta Patuca

westward to the Guatemala border.

The tropical storm watch also covers Roatan Island and the

wider archipelago within the Bay of Honduras.