Hurracane Earl to Miss Cuba

HAVANA TIMES, Aug. 30 — Hurracane Earl has picked up steam on Monday morning as it crosses the northern Leeward Islands and heads for the Virgin Islands.  It is not expected to threaten any part of Cuban territory.

Forecast cones have the storm taking a northwest path as of Tuesday that will take it away from the Caribbean and headed in the direction of the mid-Atlantic coast of the US.

The storm could reach Category 3 status by later Monday.  A hurricane warning is in effect for Antigua, Anguilla, Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Nevis, Saba, St. Kitts, St. Martin/St. Maarten, St. Barthelemy, St. Eustatius and the U.S. Virign Islands.

Three major hurricanes caused widespread destruction in Cuba in 2008.  During the 2009 and thus far in the 2010 season the island has been spared from such storms.

See the National Hurricane Center projection cone for Hurricane Earl.