Rina becomes Category 2 hurricane; 27 missing

Miami (CNN) -- Rina strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane in the western Caribbean early Tuesday, packing 100 mph winds, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.

"Additional strengthening is forecast during the next day or so and Rina could become a major hurricane by tonight or early Wednesday," the center said.

The developments came as the search continued for more than two dozen missing storm evacuees from Nicaragua.

A navy boat ferrying people between the Miskito Cays and Puerto Cabezas, on Nicaragua's eastern coast, was reported missing on Sunday, according to Vice Adm. Roger Gonzalez of the Nicaraguan navy. Twenty-seven people were on board, he said.

At 5 a.m. ET, Rina was centered about 210 miles (335 kilometers) southwest of Grand Cayman and about 320 miles (515 kilometers) east-southeast of Chetumal, Mexico. It was moving to the west-northwest at 3 mph (5 kph).

A hurricane watch has been posted for the east coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula from north of Punta Gruesa to Cancun. A tropical storm watch is in effect from Chetumal to Punta Gruesa.

On its projected path, Rina will approach the peninsula -- home to many of Mexico's top tourist spots -- by Thursday morning.

"It is too early to speculate what, if any effects Rina will have on the U.S., but after the storm makes landfall in the Yucatan, the combination of land interaction and high shear that is forecast into the Gulf of Mexico is expected to weaken Rina as it begins to turn toward the northeast toward Cuba, or perhaps South Florida or the Bahamas," said CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen.

The storm is expected to dump a total of 2 to 4 inches of rain over the Cayman Islands.

Flood-soaked Central America also braced for more rain as Rina lumbered along.

In Nicaragua and Honduras, where flooding and mudslides have affected thousands and killed dozens of people, authorities issued alerts warning residents that more precipitation could be on the way.

October marks the end of the rainy season in the region and is when the area is most susceptible to flooding because the ground is already saturated, CNN International weather anchor Mari Ramos said.

Heavy rains have hit Honduras for several weeks, killing at least 29 people, according to government statistics.

In Guatemala, 39 people have been killed and thousands remain at risk, the state-run AGN news agency reported.

Civil protection officials in El Salvador reported 34 rain-related deaths. And Nicaragua has reported at least 12 deaths.