Cuba Pegs TS Richard Nearly Stationary

By Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, Oct. 22 — Tropical Storm Richard remains virtually stationary east of northern Honduras and when finally picking up steam is now expected to reach land in northern Belize or the southern Mexican Yucatan sometime Monday, says the Cuban Meteorological Institute (INSMET).

Both INSMET and US forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami do not show the storm posing a threat to Cuba.

Reporting at 6:00 a.m. EST, the INSMET put the center of TS Richard at 385 kilometers (miles) south of Grand Cayman and 330 kilometers (miles) east-northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua-Honduras border.

The Cuban experts sees the weather system gaining some in organizations and intensity in the next 24-48 hours and increasing its movement as it begins to head west on Saturday.  Richard is expected to reach hurricane strength sometime on the weekend, notes INSMET.

The NHC says a tropical storm watch is in effect for northeastern Honduras.

The next report from the Cuban weather forecasters is due at noon on Friday.