Incredible timelapse video shows storm clouds rolling into Cancun as Hurricane Earl makes landfall in Mexico

  • The 30-second clip shows dark clouds approaching Cancun, Mexico, on Wednesday, where winds topped 70mph 
  • It also hit Belize, where winds of 80mph and rain were seen, as the storm continued its path of destruction  
  • Category-1 storm is heading westwards as officials warned that heavy rain could cause flash floods and mudslides
  • Schools, airports and national parks have closed across South America but the storm is expected to weaken when it moves ashore and reaches Mexico

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This incredible timelapse video shows storm clouds rolling into the eastern coast of Mexico as Hurricane Earl made landfall.

The 30-second clip shows dark clouds approaching Cancun on Wednesday, where winds topped 70mph, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami.

It also hit Belize, where winds of 80mph and heavy rain were seen, as the storm continued its path of destruction towards Mexico. 

This incredible timelapse video shows storm clouds rolling into the eastern coast of Mexico as Hurricane Earl made landfall

This incredible timelapse video shows storm clouds rolling into the eastern coast of Mexico as Hurricane Earl made landfall

The 30-second video clip shows dark clouds approaching Cancun on Wednesday, where winds topped 70mph

The 30-second video clip shows dark clouds approaching Cancun on Wednesday, where winds topped 70mph

Tropical storm Earl whipped Belize with wind and heavy rain as it weakened, moving into Guatemala toward southeastern Mexico on Thursday after hundreds of people took shelter overnight.

The NHC said on Thursday that Earl had maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour (105 km per hour) as it churned about 90 miles (145 km) west of Belize City. Earl had been a hurricane overnight.

Late Wednesday, over 1,000 people were in shelters in Belize City, according to Philip Willoughby, who is in charge of the city's emergency management. 

Belize's National Emergency Management Organization warned the heavy rains 'could cause flash floods and mudslides especially over higher terrain.'

Officials added: 'For coastal areas, there is also a risk for flooding, especially in low-lying areas.' 

The storm clouds are seen rolling into Mexico after battering Belize, where winds of 80mph and heavy rain were seen

The storm clouds are seen rolling into Mexico after battering Belize, where winds of 80mph and heavy rain were seen

As it moves west, Earl is expected to weaken to a tropical depression later Thursday or by Friday morning 

As it moves west, Earl is expected to weaken to a tropical depression later Thursday or by Friday morning 

The category-1 storm dumped rain on northern Honduras as it brushed past its coastline - capsizing a fishing boat with 83 people on board in the process. 

Dozens of people were also evacuated in Honduras on Wednesday, the government said.

As it moves west, Earl is expected to weaken to a tropical depression later Thursday or by Friday morning, the NHC said. 

Alerts have been issued in the two South American countries, along with Honduras, and airports in the areas have been closed.

In Belize, the government opened storm shelters and used radio and television broadcasts to urge residents of low-lying areas to move to higher ground. 

On Thursday morning the hurricane was recorded around five miles southwest of Belize City (pictured)

On Thursday morning the hurricane was recorded around five miles southwest of Belize City (pictured)

Passengers leave Guatemala before the arrival of the storm, which is set to bring heavy rain

Passengers leave Guatemala before the arrival of the storm, which is set to bring heavy rain

The US National Hurricane Center said the storm was moving roughly westward and threatens neighboring Mexico (pictured) with torrential rain

The US National Hurricane Center said the storm was moving roughly westward and threatens neighboring Mexico (pictured) with torrential rain

Alerts have been issued in  Honduras (pictured), and airports in the areas have been closed

Alerts have been issued in Honduras (pictured), and airports in the areas have been closed

Some people have evacuated low-lying coastal areas in nearby Guatemala (pictured)

Some people have evacuated low-lying coastal areas in nearby Guatemala (pictured)

Some people also evacuated low-lying coastal areas in nearby Guatemala.

Hotels along Belize's coast and the low-lying islands offshore pulled in awnings and beach chairs as heavy rain began whipping the coast late Wednesday evening.

The manager of the Caribbean Villas Hotel, in San Pedro on Belize's Ambergris Caye, said: 'Anything that's not anchored in, we've pulled back and out of the way.' 

Authorities in the Mexican coastal state of Quintana Roo, to the north of the hurricane's predicted path, reported some evacuations and prepared shelters in case of flooding. 

The hurricane center said heavy rains would be a danger in southern Mexico through Saturday as Earl crosses the Yucatan Peninsula and the states of Tabasco and Veracruz.

On late Wednesday night, Earl raked the northern coast of Honduras and capsized a lobster fishing boat in the Caribbean. 

The category-1 storm gathered strength and dumped rain on Honduras (pictured)  as it brushed past it on its way to Belize

The category-1 storm gathered strength and dumped rain on Honduras (pictured)  as it brushed past it on its way to Belize

A marine gas station is shut down as it prepares for the storm, in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala

A marine gas station is shut down as it prepares for the storm, in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala

Villagers stand on the coast of the bay of Amatique, before the arrival of Hurricane Earl, in Puerto Barrios

Villagers stand on the coast of the bay of Amatique, before the arrival of Hurricane Earl, in Puerto Barrios

A man cycles in a flooded street as Hurricane Earl passes the coast of La Ceiba in Honduras

A man cycles in a flooded street as Hurricane Earl passes the coast of La Ceiba in Honduras

All but two of the 83 people on board were rescued but the navy confirmed it was looking for the people missing. 

Lisandro Rosales, head of Honduras' emergency commission, said there were reports of large numbers of trees and utility poles being knocked down.

Schools and universities closed across Honduras' coastal provinces, and archaeological reserves and national parks were shut in Belize.

The Belize Tourism Board announced that cruise ship calls had also been cancelled for this week.

The storm is expected to begin weakening when it moves ashore, and according to data published on the US National Hurricane Center website, it will arrive in the south of Mexico on Saturday.

By this point however, the hurricane will have downgraded to a 'Tropical Depression' and will have wind speeds of less than 39mph.

A passenger boat leaves the municipal pier heading to neighboring communities in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala

A passenger boat leaves the municipal pier heading to neighboring communities in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala

Belize closed archaeological reserves and national parks (pictured) on account of the storm

Belize closed archaeological reserves and national parks (pictured) on account of the storm

Guatemalan army soldiers stand for review at their base before the arrival of Hurricane Earl

Guatemalan army soldiers stand for review at their base before the arrival of Hurricane Earl

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