Rina moves slowly as it gathers strength

Mexican officials posted watches and warnings as Hurricane Rina slogged across the Caribbean Sea, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Tuesday. Rina, a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds, was about 210 miles southwest of Grand Cayman island and about 320 miles east-southeast of Chetumal, Mexico, moving west-northwest at 3 mph, the center said in its 5 a.m. EDT advisory. Meanwhile, the search resumed for more than two dozen people who evacuated Nicaragua because of the storm, CNN reported. A navy boat ferrying from the Miskito Cays to Puerto Cabezas was reported missing Sunday, Nicaraguan naval Vice Adm. Roger Gonzalez said. Twenty-seven people were on board. Mexico issued a tropical storm watch for the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula from Chetumal to Punta Gruesa, and a hurricane watch from Punta Gruesa to Cancun. On its forecast track, Rina's center will approach the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula -- home to many popular tourist spots -- by Thursday morning, the hurricane center said. Rina is expected to strengthen during the next day or two and could become a major hurricane by Tuesday night or early Wednesday, forecasters said. Rina could bring 2- to 4 inches of rain over the Cayman Islands. Flood-soaked Central America also prepared for more rain as Rina moved along and the end of the rainy season approached, CNN reported. In Nicaragua and Honduras, authorities issued alerts warning residents more precipitation could be on the way. October marks the end of the rainy season in the region, which has seen flooding and mudslides for several weeks, officials said. Central American officials reported at least 114 rain-related deaths.