Category 1 Hurricane Oscar Hits Cuba as It Makes Landfall

Hurricane Oscar made landfall on the northern coast of east Cuba with maximum sustained winds near 80 mph. The compact but powerful Category 1 storm formed off the coast of the Bahamas and prompted hurricane warnings for parts of Cuba. Oscar is expected to move across eastern Cuba on Sunday night into Monday and then accelerate northeastward across the central Bahamas on Tuesday. Despite weakening after landfall, Oscar could still be a tropical storm when it moves north of Cuba late Monday. Cuba, where the electrical grid has collapsed twice in 24 hours, is bracing for impact with storm warnings and watches. Eastern Cuba is expected to be hit with hurricane conditions and heavy rainfall, with up to 15 inches in some areas. The southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos may also receive significant rainfall. Storm surge along Cuba’s north shore is expected to reach 1 to 3 feet, along with large and destructive waves near the coast. Tropical storm warnings and watches are in effect for various provinces in Cuba and neighboring areas.

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