Tropical storm Oscar continues to weaken but its slow translational speed allows it to remain over Cuban territory, causing heavy rains, although its wind strength has decreased.
According to the latest report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the maximum sustained winds of Oscar have decreased to 65 km/h (40 mph).
It is moving in a west-northwest direction at 6 km (3 mph), a speed slightly higher than the 4 km/h it had earlier this Monday.
At 11 a.m. (local time), the eye of Oscar was located about 125 km (80 miles) west of Punta de Maisí and just 25 km (15 miles) west-northwest of the city of Guantánamo.
Right now, the biggest danger is the rainfall.
Until Wednesday, rainfall accumulations of 7 to 14 inches are expected— with isolated areas receiving up to 20 inches— in eastern Cuba, especially in the Sierra Maestra, which will cause flash flooding and landslides.
In the province of Guantánamo, more than 10 inches of rain have already been recorded.
The tropical storm watch for the northern coast of the province of Camagüey has been canceled.
However, the tropical storm warning remains in effect for the northern coast of Las Tunas, Holguín, and Guantánamo up to Punta Maisí; it is also in effect for the southern coast of Guantánamo.
There is a tropical storm alert for the central Bahamas.
The NHC expects that Oscar will move over eastern Cuba this afternoon and toward the northern coast later today or tonight, approaching the southeast and central Bahamas on Tuesday.
The sustained winds have decreased, but they could strengthen slightly as they move over open waters. Tropical storm-force gusts now extend up to 75 kilometers from the center (45 miles).
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