Hurricane Oscar developed rapidly over the Atlantic Ocean southeast of the Bahamas on Saturday afternoon. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Oscar was located at latitude 21.4°N and longitude 70.6°W which put the center about 165 miles (265 km) east-southeast of the Southeastern Bahamas. Oscar was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (150 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 989 mb.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos, and the Southeastern Bahamas.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin and Las Tunas.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Cuban province of Camaguey.
A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance plane found that a low pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean southeast of the Bahamas had rapidly developed into a hurricane on Saturday afternoon. Based on data gather by the reconnaissance flight, the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Hurricane Oscar.
The circulation around Hurricane Oscar was very small. A very small eye with a diameter of 4 miles (6 km) was at the center of Oscar’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Short bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Hurricane Oscar. Storms near the center of Oscar generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.
The circulation around Hurricane Oscar was very small. Winds to hurricane force extended out 5 miles (8 km) on the northern side of Oscar’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Hurricane Oscar.
Hurricane Oscar will move through an environment mostly favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Oscar will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the eastern end of an upper level ridge over the Bahamas. The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Oscar’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Hurricane Oscar is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane Oscar will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Oscar toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Oscar will move over the Turks and Caicos and the Southeastern Bahamas. Oscar could approach eastern Cuba on Sunday night.
Hurricane Oscar will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to the Turks and Caicos and the Southeastern Bahamas. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.
Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Nadine brought strong winds and heavy rain to parts of Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Nadine was located at latitude 17.6°N and longitude 88.5°W which put the center about 20 miles (30 km) west-northwest of Belize City, Belize. Nadine was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Belize City,, Belize to Cancun, Mexico. The Tropical Storm Warning includes Cozumel.