Tropical Storm Karl makes landfall in Mexico

Karl, the 11th named storm of the season, had winds of 65 miles per hour/ with higher gusts as of 7:45 a.m./(1245 GMT). Its center was expected to cross the Yucatan on Wednesday and re-enter the Gulf of Mexico after nightfall.

"Restrengthening is forecast on Thursday after Karl moves over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico where Karl is likely to become a hurricane," the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Upon reaching water again, Karl was likely to miss U.S. oil and natural gas rigs in the northern part of the Gulf although forecasters said it may hit Mexican oil rigs.

But Mexico's state-run oil giant Pemex said it had not yet taken any action but was monitoring Karl closely. Emergency authorities warned the storm could bring heavy rains to the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, home to the Cancun beach resort.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula from Chetumal at the Mexico-Belize border northward to Cabo Catoche. This area is known for its white sand beaches and coral reefs.

Karl may bring some coastal flooding near the area where it makes landfall as well as large, damaging waves, forecasters said. The storm is also expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 5 inches as it crosses the Yucatan peninsula.

Two hurricanes, Igor and Julia, also raced across the Atlantic Ocean but posed no immediate threat to land or energy interests along its projected track.

Igor -- 1,090 miles/ southeast of Bermuda -- showed signs of weakening overnight but still was a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale with 145 mph/ winds.

Strengthening overnight, Julia -- 525 miles/ west of the Cape Verde Islands and moving northwest -- was also Category 4 with 132 mph/ winds and farther from land than Igor, a day after developing into the season's fifth hurricane.

(Additional reporting by Cyntia Barrera Diaz, writing by Bill Trott; Editing by Eric Beech)