MEXICO – Forming over the Caribbean Sea this weekend, a tropical storm is due to make landfall later today in Mexico. Officials are also speculating that the storm could gain strength as it passes over the Gulf of Mexico before making a second landfall on Thursday.

Tropical Storm Franklin will make land on the Yucatan Peninsula later this evening, local time. According to AccuWeather, a combination of warm water and diminishing wind shear, the changing of speed and direction of winds in the atmosphere, could lead to a stronger storm once it does make landfall. 

"Franklin could be close to hurricane strength when it makes landfall over the southeastern Yucatan Peninsula later Monday night," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski. 

As it continues its trajectory through the Gulf of Mexico and back onto Mexico’s mainland, Franklin is also expected to affect Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, and northern Guatemala, in addition to Mexico. Rough seas are expected around the Cayman Islands as the storm passes. 

"Franklin will bring flooding rainfall with totals of 4-8 inches in some locations, along with damaging wind gusts of 40-60 mph to the Yucatan Peninsula," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Brown. 

As Franklin leaves Mexico and passes through the Gulf of Mexico, authorities caution that the storm could regain strength once again from the Gulf’s warm waters and potentially reach hurricane status, according to The Washington Post. The storm will land for a second time on Thursday near Tampico, Mexico.

"After some weakening occurs into Tuesday, Franklin is likely to restrengthen over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night and Wednesday," Kottlowski said. "Franklin could be a hurricane by the time it makes a second landfall between Tampico and Veracruz, Mexico, on Thursday morning." 

Areas near Tampico are advised to prepare for flooding rain, damaging rain, and potential mudslides. Authorities are preparing for power outages and potentially weakened structures. 

Meteorologists do not expect Franklin to head towards Texas, though the states may still see rough seas and rain.

As the storm progesses, count on AndNowUKnow for the latest updates.