Tropical Storm Oscar Approaches the Bahamas, Brings Heavy Rainfall to Cuba
Tropical Storm Oscar is making its way toward the Bahamas and bringing heavy rainfall to Cuba.
TroibNews 
Tropical Storm Oscar unleashed substantial rainfall across eastern Cuba on Monday after making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in an area already grappling with a significant power outage.
As of Monday, Oscar had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and was moving north-northwest at 11 kph. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, the storm was approximately 130 kilometers northwest of Guantanamo, Cuba.
Forecasts predicted up to 36 centimeters of rain for eastern Cuba, with some isolated areas potentially receiving as much as 50 centimeters. "The main concern is just very heavy rainfall that's occurring over portions of eastern Cuba right now that are likely producing significant flooding and even potentially some mudslides in that area," noted Philippe Papin, a hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center.
Oscar is recorded as the smallest hurricane, featuring a wind field of roughly 10 km, as shared by hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry. He emphasized that none of the forecast models had suggested Oscar could strengthen into a hurricane prior to making landfall in the Bahamas on Saturday. "It's not often we see a colossal failure in hurricane forecasting," he stated in an analysis published on Monday.
The storm made landfall in the eastern Cuban province of Guantanamo, near the city of Baracoa, on Sunday evening, packing winds of 120 kph. On Saturday, it had also made landfall on Great Inagua in the Bahamas, where local residents were evacuated due to property damage.
Reports emerged from Cuba's eastern provinces of rain and flooding in low-lying areas. Cuban media indicated 2-meter swells were impacting the coast, and incidents of damage to roofs and walls in Baracoa were noted.
The storm is anticipated to move off Cuba's northern coast late on Monday and continue toward the southeastern and central Bahamas on Tuesday, according to U.S. forecasters.
A tropical storm warning is in place for the northern coast of Cuba's provinces of Las Tunas, Holguin, and Guantanamo to Punta Maisi, as well as the southern coast of Guantanamo province and the southeastern Bahamas. Additionally, a warning is active for the central Bahamas.
Cuba experienced an island-wide power outage on Friday, with some electrical service restored by Saturday, though the majority of residents remain without power. The country's energy minister expressed optimism that the grid might be operational again by Monday or Tuesday.
In related news, Tropical Storm Kristy formed off Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Monday but is not anticipated to threaten land. The storm was located 440 km south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, and was traveling west at 28 kph with sustained winds of 65 kph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Kristy is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday while continuing over open waters.
/GOES shows hurricane Oscar approaching the east of Cuba. /CFP)
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
As of Monday, Oscar had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and was moving north-northwest at 11 kph. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, the storm was approximately 130 kilometers northwest of Guantanamo, Cuba.
Forecasts predicted up to 36 centimeters of rain for eastern Cuba, with some isolated areas potentially receiving as much as 50 centimeters. "The main concern is just very heavy rainfall that's occurring over portions of eastern Cuba right now that are likely producing significant flooding and even potentially some mudslides in that area," noted Philippe Papin, a hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center.
Oscar is recorded as the smallest hurricane, featuring a wind field of roughly 10 km, as shared by hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry. He emphasized that none of the forecast models had suggested Oscar could strengthen into a hurricane prior to making landfall in the Bahamas on Saturday. "It's not often we see a colossal failure in hurricane forecasting," he stated in an analysis published on Monday.
The storm made landfall in the eastern Cuban province of Guantanamo, near the city of Baracoa, on Sunday evening, packing winds of 120 kph. On Saturday, it had also made landfall on Great Inagua in the Bahamas, where local residents were evacuated due to property damage.
Reports emerged from Cuba's eastern provinces of rain and flooding in low-lying areas. Cuban media indicated 2-meter swells were impacting the coast, and incidents of damage to roofs and walls in Baracoa were noted.
The storm is anticipated to move off Cuba's northern coast late on Monday and continue toward the southeastern and central Bahamas on Tuesday, according to U.S. forecasters.
A tropical storm warning is in place for the northern coast of Cuba's provinces of Las Tunas, Holguin, and Guantanamo to Punta Maisi, as well as the southern coast of Guantanamo province and the southeastern Bahamas. Additionally, a warning is active for the central Bahamas.
Cuba experienced an island-wide power outage on Friday, with some electrical service restored by Saturday, though the majority of residents remain without power. The country's energy minister expressed optimism that the grid might be operational again by Monday or Tuesday.
In related news, Tropical Storm Kristy formed off Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Monday but is not anticipated to threaten land. The storm was located 440 km south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, and was traveling west at 28 kph with sustained winds of 65 kph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Kristy is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday while continuing over open waters.
/GOES shows hurricane Oscar approaching the east of Cuba. /CFP)
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
