( CNN ) -- Packing maximum sustained winds of 85 mph , Hurricane Ernesto strengthened as it closed in Tuesday on Mexico 's Yucatan Peninsula , the National Hurricane Center said . The Category 1 hurricane was forecast to make landfall Tuesday night and could strengthen before it does . The Mexican government extended a hurricane warning to the island of Cozumel on Tuesday as the storm advanced in the Caribbean . Belize issued a hurricane warning from Belize City to the border with Mexico . There is a tropical storm warning south of Belize City . As of 8 p.m . ET Tuesday , the storm was about 65 miles ( 140 kilometers ) east of Chetumal , Mexico , the National Hurricane Center reported . Ernesto was moving west at 18 mph . Hurricane force winds extended 35 miles ( 55 kilometers ) from the storm 's center , while tropical storm force winds reached up 140 miles ( 225 kilometers ) . The eye of the storm was expected to cross the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday night , then move across the peninsula into the Bay of Campeche by Wednesday afternoon or evening . The storm could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides , the hurricane center warned . Between 3 and 5 inches of rain are expected along the northern coast of Honduras , the hurricane center said . Some mountains might get up to 8 inches . Complete coverage of weather . Belize , the southern Yucatan Peninsula and northern Guatemala may get up to 12 inches of rain in some areas . Areas of Honduras and the Yucatan Peninsula were under tropical storm warnings . Ernesto will cause a surge when it reaches the coast , increasing water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels in the area near and north of where the storm makes landfall , the hurricane center said . NASA scientist links climate change , extreme weather . Lightning strikes outside NASCAR race , kills 1 .
NASA is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening . Outer bands of the storm , with tropical storm force winds , near land . The storm is 140 kilometers from Guatemala 's coast .