The Atlantic Hurricane season began June 01 this year and we still have till November 30 before it (officially) ends – but we are already out of names and into the Greek alphabet.  Tropical Storm Gamma hit the resort-dotted coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula at near-hurricane force on Saturday, flooding streets, knocking down vulnerable buildings and stranding people trying to return from outlying islands.

The storm came ashore near Tulum with maximum sustained winds of nearly 70 mph (110 kph) – 4 mph (9 kph short of hurricane force), according to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.

By night, winds had dipped to 60 mph (95 kph), and it was centred about 85 miles (135 kilometres) north-northwest of Tulum, moving to the northwest at 7 mph (11 kph).

Forecasters said the biggest threat to the area, which recently reopened to tourism after a pandemic shutdown, was likely the torrential rain and possible flooding, with as much as 10 to 15 inches (250 to 375 mm) possible over the northeastern part of the peninsula.

The state’s tourism department reported Friday on Twitter that more than 41,000 tourists were present in Quintana Roo, with hotels in Cancun and Cozumel already at more than 30% occupancy.

Social media accounts of Quintana Roo’s state government showed police removing people from vulnerable shacks and removing downed trees.

Numerous local news media published images of a thatch-roof, open-sided seaside church, Maria Star of the Sea just north of Cancun, collapsed by the storm.

The storm forced suspension of sea ferry services between Cancun and Playa del Carmen with the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres.

On Sunday at least 5 people died and thousands were evacuated in southeastern Mexico as Gamma lashed the Yucatan Peninsula’s resort-studded coast with near-hurricane force winds and drenched Tabasco and Chiapas states, authorities said.

Mexico’s civil defence agency said in a statement that four of the deaths, including two children, were in Chiapas, where a landslide on a mountainous slope buried their home. The other death was in Tabasco state, where a person was dragged away by the water.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Marie began to weaken Saturday over the open Pacific.

Marie was a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph) Friday evening, according to the Hurricane Center, but winds dipped to Category 3 status, 115 mph (185 kph) by Saturday evening.

It was centred about 1,180 miles (1,900 kilometres) west of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula and was headed to the northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).

Forecasters said it shouldn’t pose a threat to land.