Cuba Experts Say TS Richard Stronger

By Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, Oct. 22 — Tropical Storm Richard has picked up in intensity as it continues to move slowly in the western Caribbean, notes Cuba’s Meteorological Institutute (INSMET) on Friday evening.

Richard was located at 200 kilometers (125 miles) northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua-Honduras border at 6:00 p.m. EST and moving west at 7 kph (4.5 mph).

The storm packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kph (45 mph), notes INSMET.

Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami predicts TS Richard will reach hurricane strength by Sunday while moving in the western Caribbean north of Honduras en route to a landing in Belize or the Mexican Yucatan by sometime late Sunday or early Monday.

The NHC posted a tropical storm warning for central to eastern Honduras along the Central American country’s north coastline and a tropical storm watch for the western to central Honduran north coast.

A hurricane watch is in effect for northeastern Belize and the Mexican Yucatan and a tropical storm watch for the rest of the Belize Caribbean coast.