The Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba (INSMET) alerted this Sunday that Hurricane Oscar will make landfall in the afternoon along the northern coast of the island, between the provinces of Guantánamo and Holguín.
The latest bulletin from INSMET, published on Facebook, reports that Hurricane Oscar, a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour, continues to move west-southwest, slowing its forward speed to 11 kilometers per hour.
Despite this decrease, it has winds with gusts exceeding 130 km/h, and the minimum pressure has dropped to 986 hectopascals, it was reported.
At midday, the center of the hurricane was located at 20.7 degrees north latitude and 74.0 degrees west longitude, situated about 55 kilometers north-northeast of Punta de Maisí, the easternmost point of Cuba, and 65 kilometers northeast of Baracoa, both cities in the province of Guantánamo.
According to INSMET, in the next 12 hours, Oscar will continue its path between the west and west-southwest, possibly gaining some more intensity. It is forecasted that the cyclone will make landfall on the afternoon of this Sunday along the northern coast of Cuba, at some point between the provinces of Guantánamo and Holguín.
The weather conditions have already started to deteriorate in Guantánamo and Holguín, with rains, showers, and thunderstorms expected to spread throughout the rest of eastern Cuba during the afternoon.
Precipitation will be heavy, particularly in mountainous areas, with totals expected to range between 100 and 200 millimeters over the next 24 hours.
Winds will also gradually intensify, reaching speeds between 85 and 100 kilometers per hour in the evening, with higher gusts.
The bulletin indicated that in areas closest to the hurricane's impact, such as Guantánamo and Holguín, winds could reach up to 120 kilometers per hour, attaining hurricane force.
On the northeastern coast, strong waves are already being reported, particularly north of Guantánamo and Holguín, which will extend overnight to the northern coast of Las Tunas. This will cause moderate coastal flooding in low-lying areas, such as the promenade in Baracoa.
Meteorological authorities urge close attention to the evolution and trajectory of Hurricane Oscar in the eastern provinces, especially due to its destructive potential.
The next tropical cyclone advisory will be issued at 3:00 PM this Sunday, the bulletin indicated.
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