Rina degenerates into remnant

Tropical Storm Rina, weakening as it churned its way north, forced thousands of people to flee Mexican resort communities on the Yucatan Peninsula. At 5 p.m. EDT, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm had degenerated to a remnant over the Yucatan Channel, 75 miles west of the western tip of Cuba and 110 miles north-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico. Maximum sustained winds had decreased to 30 mph, and Rina was moving east-northeast at 5 mph. The storm was expected to turn toward the southeast Saturday and then turn toward the south Sunday, with continued weakening during the weekend. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect Friday night. Rina was expected to bring 3 to 6 inches of rain through Friday, with up to 10 inches in isolated areas, U.S. forecasters said. Juan Gabriel Granados, operations director for state civil protection, said about 50,000 people had been evacuated from Quintana Roo state, which includes the resort towns of Cancun and Cozumel, CNN reported. The U.S. network said boating has been banned in the area and several shelters have opened. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said a storm surge would raise water levels 1 to 2 feet above normal tides "accompanied by large and dangerous waves." A tropical storm warning was in effect for the east and north coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula from Punta Allen to San Felipe.