Article first published: Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, 11 a.m. ET
Article last updated: Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, 2 a.m. ET
On Sunday at 2 am, the National Hurricane Center issued an advisory stating that Oscar has reached new heights of intensity and has upgraded from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane, with winds blowing at 85 mph. Category 1 Hurricane Oscar is 40 miles east-northeast of Great Inagua Island and 340 miles east of Camaguey Cuba, with maximum sustained wind of 85 mph. It’s moving at 10 mph to the west.
"A turn to the west-southwest is forecast later today, and the center of Oscar is forecast to reach the coast of Cuba tonight." forecasters wrote. "A turn toward the north and northeast is expected in a couple of days."
Oscar found new strength and has evolved from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 85 mph.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Southeastern Bahamas
- North coast of the Cuban Provinces of Holguin and Guantanamo to Punta Maisi
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- North coast of the Cuban Province of Las Tunas
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- South coast of Cuban Province of Guantanamo
- North coast of the Cuban Province of Las Tunas
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- North coast of the Cuban Province of Camaguey
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected to spread across portions of the warning area in the Southeastern Bahamas, particularly Great Inagua Island, this morning. Hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area in Cuba this evening.
Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area and possible in the watch area of Cuba tonight into Monday.
RAINFALL: Through Tuesday, rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches with isolated amounts of 8 inches are expected across eastern Cuba. Across the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas, 2 to 4 inches are expected, with isolated amounts around 6 inches.
For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Oscar, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml? Rainqpf
STORM SURGE: A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding in the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas, where water levels are expected to be between 2 and 4 feet above normal tide levels. Water levels of 1 to 3 ft above normal tide levels are expected along the north shore of Cuba in areas of onshore winds. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Source: National Hurricane Center
This article was generated by the South Carolina Bot, artificial intelligence software that analyzes information from the National Hurricane Center and applies it to templates created by journalists in the newsroom. We are experimenting with this and other new ways of providing more useful content to our readers and subscribers. You can report errors or bugs to mcclatchybot@mcclatchy.com .
Local News
Comments / 0