Hurricane Rina: Cancun in Danger, Florida on Alert

Powerful Hurricane Rina is on a collision course with Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula then could impact the Florida Peninsula.

Rina remains a dangerous storm in the northwestern Caribbean, churning less than 400 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Rina is on the verge of becoming a major hurricane (Category 3 strength or greater) and could reach that status later today or tonight.

However, the severity of the situation facing the Yucatan Peninsula will not change whether Rina slams onshore as a strong Category 2 or minimal Category 3 hurricane.

Rina will weaken as it crosses the Yucatan Peninsula and emerges into the southern Gulf of Mexico by Friday.

After Friday, Rina could loop southward into western Cuba or the northwestern Caribbean or take a track toward the Florida Keys or South Florida this weekend.

While the latter could mean a damaging wind threat for South Florida, Rina's moisture will stream northward in both solutions and lead to downpours across central or South Florida later this week into early next week.

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist Accuweather.com

Hurricane Rina's Projected Path