At 4:30 pm, the weather station in Punta Maisí recorded a wind gust of 103 km/h, a clear indicator of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Oscar in the eastern region of Cuba.
The Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) reported on Facebook that the recording took place in Maisí, in Guantánamo, one of the provinces that will feel the impact of Hurricane Oscar the most.
In the latest bulletin, INSMET indicated that it will make landfall near Baracoa.
"Hurricane Oscar has moved to the west-southwest and has maintained its slow speed of translation at only 11 kilometers per hour," the report indicated.
In addition, it was noted that at three in the afternoon, the center of the hurricane was estimated at 20.6 degrees North latitude and 74.2 degrees West longitude, a position that places it 40 kilometers north of Punta de Maisí, the easternmost point of Cuba, and 45 kilometers northeast of Baracoa, both locations in Guantánamo province.
He noted that Oscar is very close to making landfall around six in the afternoon this Sunday, near a point close to Baracoa on the northern coast of Guantánamo.
Its maximum sustained winds remain at 130 kilometers per hour, with higher gusts, so it continues to be a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and its minimum pressure is 986 hectopascals.
The weather conditions continue to deteriorate in the provinces of Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas, with rains, showers, and thunderstorms that have intensified in several areas of eastern Cuba, especially in the mountainous regions.
According to INSMET, these phenomena have raised concerns among authorities and the population due to the potential impact they could have on vulnerable areas.
In the next 24 hours, accumulated rainfall is expected to range between 100 and 200 millimeters in the provinces of the eastern region, which could lead to local flooding and landslides in susceptible areas.
Authorities have urged the population to take extreme precautions and follow the recommendations issued by Civil Defense and meteorological services.
The intensity of the winds in the eastern provinces of Cuba will gradually increase throughout the afternoon and into the night, reaching sustained speeds of between 85 and 100 kilometers per hour, with even stronger gusts.
The bulletin indicated that winds could reach hurricane strength, reaching up to 120 kilometers per hour in Guantánamo and Holguín, especially in the areas close to the center of Hurricane Oscar, which is approaching Cuban territory.
According to INSMET, these adverse conditions are accompanied by strong swells that are already occurring on the northern coast of Guantánamo and Holguín, and that will extend towards the coast of Las Tunas during the night.
These swells are causing moderate to severe coastal flooding in low-lying areas, including sensitive spots like the Malecón of Baracoa, where sea penetrations have been recorded.
Meteorological authorities have warned that conditions will worsen in the coming hours, and coastal flooding is expected to persist and even intensify.
Coastal communities have been urged to take extra precautions and evacuate if necessary, while the Civil Defense continues to closely monitor the evolution of Hurricane Oscar.
The National Hurricane Center indicated on social media platform X that the center of Hurricane Oscar is very close to making landfall in Cuba.
The provinces of Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma, and Las Tunas are in the Cyclonic Alarm Phase.
Radio Baracoa has shared several videos that capture the imminent arrival of the hurricane to eastern Cuba.
In one of the videos, it can be seen that many people seem to be unaware of the seriousness of the weather situation, despite the fact that the cyclone is about to hit the region.
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