Hurricane Oscar has made its dramatic landfall in the southeastern Bahamas, hitting Great Inagua Island early Sunday. With sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) and higher gusts, the powerful storm is now making its way toward Cuba, a country already struggling with a significant power outage that recently left millions in the dark for two days.
According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, the storm is expected to cause a dangerous storm surge across the southeastern Bahamas, leading to potential coastal flooding. Rainfall estimates are between two to four inches, with isolated areas seeing up to six inches. Cuba could face even more severe conditions, with forecasters predicting five to 10 inches of rain across eastern Cuba through Tuesday, with some areas experiencing up to 15 inches.
As Hurricane Oscar barrels westward at 12 mph (19 kph), it is expected to reach Guantanamo or Holguin, Cuba, by Sunday afternoon, maintaining its hurricane strength. The storm’s arrival adds another layer of hardship to Cuba’s ongoing recovery efforts from its worst blackout in two years. While some power was restored on Saturday, the approaching hurricane could pose further challenges for the island nation.
The National Hurricane Center earlier described Oscar as a “tiny” storm, but its unexpected intensification into a hurricane on Saturday has prompted emergency warnings for both southeastern Bahamas and portions of Cuba.
Source: Swifteradio.com
