Cuba to Watch TS Paula Closely

By Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, Oct. 11 — Tropical Storm Paula formed in the southwestern Caribbean on Monday and Cuba’s weather experts say they will “keep a very close watch on the evolution and path” of the weather system.

Paula –currently packs 95 kph (60 mph) maximum sustained winds— and the Cuban Meteorological Institute (INSMET) says it could become a hurricane sometime on Tuesday.

“For the time being the greatest interest for Cuba is associated with the outer bands of the tropical storm which will increment rains in the western region of the country in the coming hours and could be locally intense, mainly on the Isle of Youth,” notes INSMET.

At 6:00 EST the Cuban forecasters located the center of Paula at 195 kms. (121 miles) east-southeast  of Guanaja Island, Honduras and 575 kms. (357 miles) south-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico.

Paula is moving northwest at 15 kms (9 mph).

INSMET coincided with the National Hurricane Center which predicts that the storm will remain in the western Caribbean for several days.  They have yet to project how and when it will leave the region.

The NHC reports a tropical storm warning is in effect for the northeastern coast of Honduras, a TS watch for the Caribbean coast of Belize and a hurricane warning is in place for the entire eastern Yucatan coast.