HAVANA — Tropical Storm Oscar dumped heavy rain across eastern Cuba on Monday after making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane on the island already beleaguered by a massive power outage.
Its maximum sustained winds blew at 75 kph on Monday as Oscar moved west at 4 kph. The storm was located about 10 kilometres east of Guantánamo, Cuba, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Up to 14 inches of rain were forecast across eastern Cuba, with isolated amounts of up to 20 inches.
“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,” said Philippe Papin, a hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center.
Oscar made landfall in the eastern province of Guantanamo, near the city of Baracoa, on Sunday evening with winds of 120 kph. The storm had also made landfall on Saturday on Great Inagua in the Bahamas, where residents were evacuated after their homes were damaged.
Rain and flooding in low-lying areas were reported in Cuba’s eastern provinces. Cuban media said 6.5-feet swells were hitting the coast and that roofs and walls in Baracoa had been damaged.
The storm is expected to emerge off Cuba’s northern coast late Monday and move near the southeastern and central Bahamas on Tuesday, U.S. forecasters said.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for the north coast of the Cuban provinces of Las Tunas, Holguin, and Guantanamo to Punta Maisi and for the south coast of Guantánamo province.
A tropical storm watch was in effect for the north coast of Camaguey province.
Cuba suffered an islandwide power blackout Friday. Some electrical service was restored Saturday but most residents remain without power. The country’s energy minister expressed hope the grid could be restored Monday or Tuesday.
UPDATE FROM THE BAHAMAS
Warnings and watches were also in effect for parts of The Bahamas.
An update from The Bahamas Department of Meteorology at 9 a.m. this morning, Oct. 21, notes that a Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for portions of the Southeast Bahamas. The islands are Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Cay, Ragged Island and Inagua. A Tropical Storm Warning means that Tropical Storm conditions could be experienced on these islands within 36 hours or is being experienced.
A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for the islands of the Central Bahamas. This includes Cat Island, Exuma, Long Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador. A Tropical Watch means that tropical Storm conditions could be experienced within 48 hours or is being experienced.
Meanwhile The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism notes that The Bahamas is an archipelago with more than 700 islands and cays, spread over 100,00 square miles.
Tourism reps note that the major areas in the Northern and Central Bahamas including Nassau, Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island, Eleuthera/Harbour Islands, and The Exumas remain unaffected by the storm.
Airports and cruise ports in the Northern and Central Bahamas including Lynden Pindling Airport (LPIA) remain open and fully operational. Travellers with plans to the Southern Bahamas are asked to check with airlines and hotels regarding potential disruptions to their travel plans.
More information is posted at met.gov.bs.
With file from The Associated Press
