<a href="https://time.news/cubas-electric-grid-collapses-again-millions-remain-in-the-dark/" title="Cuba's electric grid collapses again, millions remain in the dark”>Hurricane Oscar Hits Cuba with Heavy Rains and Winds
HAVANA (AP) — Hurricane Oscar brought heavy rains and winds to Cuba, an island beleaguered by a massive power outage, late Sunday after striking the southeastern Bahamas earlier in the day, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
The hurricane center reported that the storm’s center made landfall in the eastern Cuban province of Guantanamo, near the city of Baracoa, on Sunday evening, with maximum sustained winds reaching 75 mph (120 kph).
The system is expected to continue moving across eastern Cuba Sunday night and Monday. Forecasters predict that 6 to 12 inches (15.2 to 30.5 centimeters) of rain will fall across eastern Cuba through early Wednesday, with some isolated areas potentially receiving up to 18 inches (45.72 centimeters). The center also indicated a possible storm surge of up to 3 feet (0.91 meters) along Cuba’s northern shore.
Oscar is expected to weaken as it traverses eastern Cuba before shifting northeast and approaching the central Bahamas on Tuesday.
As of late Sunday, the storm’s center was located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of the eastern tip of Cuba and roughly 45 miles (75 kilometers) east of Guantanamo. It was moving west-southwest at 6 mph (9 kph).
Earlier on Sunday, Oscar made landfall on Great Inagua island in the Bahamas, generating a dangerous storm surge that could lead to significant coastal flooding in several southeastern Bahamas areas. Rainfall in those locations was expected to be between two to four inches (5.1 to 10.2 centimeters), with some isolated areas potentially accumulating up to 6 inches (15.2 centimeters).
The hurricane’s arrival coincides with Cuba’s struggle to recover from its worst blackout in at least two years, which left millions without power for two days last week. Some electrical service was restored Saturday.
Philippe Papin of the National Hurricane Center noted that Oscar’s rapid intensification into a hurricane was somewhat unexpected. “Unfortunately, the system kind of snuck up a little bit on us,” Papin remarked.
In addition, hours before Oscar formed, Tropical Storm Nadine emerged off Mexico’s southern Caribbean coast but degenerated into a tropical depression as it moved over land.
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