Roxanne Gathers Strength, May Return To Hurricane Force

Tropical storm Roxanne gathered strength over warm Gulf waters Friday, threatening to return to hurricane force as it headed toward the eastern coast of Mexico.

Four people have died since Roxanne hit the Yucatan peninsula as a hurricane on Tuesday, knocking down trees, forcing thousands into shelters, flooding towns and ruining crops.

The hurricane weakened over land and was downgraded to a tropical storm after entering the Gulf of Mexico at midweek.

But on Friday, maximum sustained winds strengthened from 50 mph to 60 mph.

“If it doesn’t pick up speed, it could sit out there until it does strengthen,” said forecaster Tricia Wallace at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

“Possibly, possibly, it could make hurricane again.”

Roxanne was the Atlantic storm season’s 10th hurricane when it crashed ashore.