Hurricane Dean satellite photo (NOAA).

Islanders are spending the weekend making preparations for Hurricane Dean. The category 4 storm is currently near Jamaica in the Caribbean and will probably arrive to the Mexican coast on Monday night.

The National Hurricane Center in the United States advised this morning that Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula should "closely monitor" the hurricane's progress.

The people of Cozumel are taking the usual precautionary steps, such as sending the vehicle ferries to safe harbor, assisting tourists home, lifting boats out of the water, closing hurricane shutters and taking down street signs. Hurricane Dean is currently moving along at 18 miles per hour (30 kmh) with winds of up to 145 miles per hour (230 kmh). It is now near Jamaica, at a distance of some 1,200 miles (2,000 km) from Cozumel.

Protecting windows (Radio Coral).

Over the last couple of years, special inspections have been made by authorities in Cozumel to ensure that buildings are safe and effectively 'hurricane proof'.

Islanders are calm and will be ready to welcome tourists back again the moment Dean has said his farewells.

This is Cozumel will be providing regular updates and you can also monitor the storm's progress on the National Hurricane Center's website.

If you have a vacation or flight booked in Cozumel this week we recommend you consult with your travel agent or tour operator.