Hurricane Oscar is approaching eastern Cuba

Hurricane Oscar continues to move east of Cuba, remaining a category 1 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Early this morning, Oscar has had some changes in his intensity. Right now, it appears maximum sustained winds of 130 km/hwith higher currents, and a minimum pressure of 988 hectopascals. It has the speed of translation 19 km/hmoving west.

Current situation:

At 6:00 a.m. today, the center of Hurricane Oscar was located over the island of Great Inagua, in the eastern Bahamas. He had the coordinates 21.0°N y 73.2°ostand at 130 km northeast of Punta de Maisíthe eastern end of Cuba, already 240 km east of Punta Lucreciain Holguin.

Forecast and track conditions:

During the next 12 hours, Oscar will maintain a course between the west and west-southwest, with the potential to increase in intensity. It is expected that it will continue to move across the oceans to the north of the eastern part of Cuba. Towards this afternoon, the hurricane will approach the the northern coast of Guantánamo and Holguinwhere he gradually reduced his translational speed.

Hurricane Oscar could make landfall this afternoon, affecting areas of the Guantanamo y Holguin. Starting in the morning, the weather will begin to decrease in the eastern region, with an increase in showers, rain and thunderstormswhich could be strong and intense in some areas in the eastern part of Cuba, especially in the mountainous areas.

Wind and currents:

It is expected that the wind in the eastern provinces reach distances 85 and 100 km/hwith higher currents in the evening. In Guantánamo and Holguin, the winds would reach hurricane forcejust when Oscar hits the ground. Additionally, as of noon today, strong seas will affect the northeast coast, with moderate coastal flooding in the lower parts of this coast, including the Baracoa path.

The authorities recommend to the residents of the eastern part of Cuba to be alert for the evolution of the hurricane and to be careful.

The next tropical cyclone warning will be issued at midday today, Sunday.

Weather Centre, INSMET