Grace's intensity continued to increase, and on August 18 at 15:00 UTC, the NHC upgraded the tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane after reconnaissance aircraft found hurricane force winds inside the system.[127] Little further intensification occurred before the system made landfall near Tulum, Quintana Roo, at 09:45 UTC on August 19.[128] Later, Grace weakened into a tropical storm again while crossing the Yucatan Peninsula.[129] However, after moving offshore of the peninsula and into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico at around 00:00 UTC on August 20, the storm began to re-strengthen, becoming a Category 1 hurricane at 12:00 UTC that same day. On August 21 at 03:00 UTC, Grace rapidly intensified to a Category 3 hurricane just fifteen hours later, becoming the first major hurricane of the season. After peaking with winds of 125 mph (205 km/h), the system made landfall near Tecolutla, Veracruz, at 06:00 UTC.[130][131][132][133] It then rapidly weakened over the mountains of central Mexico and dissipated there.[134] However, the remnants of Grace traveled across Mexico, and contributed to the development of Tropical Storm Marty in the Eastern Pacific.[135]