Mexico on high alert for hurricane
Updated on 20 August 2007
Mexico prepares for potentially lethal category five storms.
A category four hurricane brings gusts of up to 150 miles an hour, and up to 20 inches of rain. Winds this strong are officially called "extremely dangerous". They fell trees and rip the roofs off houses.
The worst of the storm has now passed to the south of Jamaica. It could have been much more devastating, which is fortunate for those who felt the brunt of it - the thousands who refused to head to shelters, convinced their homes would be looted if they left them.
From the international space station they can monitor the eye of the storm. The space shuttle Endeavour will now return to earth a day early just in case the storm makes it to the US.
They are also preparing for the worst in the Mexican holiday resort of Cancun.
When Hurricane Dean lands here tomorrow it could be a potentially catastrophic category five hurricane, and they remember all too well the devastation caused by Wilma two years ago.
Extra flights are being laid on to get holidaymakers home. But nearly everyone wants out - and as soon as possible.
Why Dean?
This is the fourth named storm of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. For that it gets the name Dean - 'd' being the fourth letter of the alphabet.
This is because tropical storms were originally given names to avoid confusion when issuing weather warnings.
Today the lists are decided upon by committees of the World Meteorological Organisation or by national weather offices which forecast storms.
Every year the names of the most destructive storms are "retired", and new names take their place. So, for example, there will never be another hurricane Katrina.
Read more here: Q&A: Hurricane Dean
Some British tourists, however, are determined to make the most of their holiday - hurricane or not.
One happy couple were relieved to get married before the hurricane hit - it was just a bit gusty in the end. But all 40 guests and the newlyweds are now stranded in Mexico.
Then there are the hurricane hunters. While everyone else is trying to flee the storm, they have to fly right into it.
Dropping measuring devices into the eye is the only way to accurately measure its speed and intensity. Predictions about Katrina were so wrong they dare never take that chance again.
With Hurricane Dean they do at least know what to expect - even if they can't do anything to stop it.
