Hurricane Oscar Brings Wind and Rain to Southeastern Bahamas

Hurricane Oscar brought wind and rain to the Southeastern Bahamas early on Sunday.  At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Oscar was located at latitude 20.8°N and longitude 73.6°W which put the center about 20 miles (30 km) southwest of  Great Inagua.  Oscar was moving toward the west-southwest 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 986 mb.

Hurricane Warnings are in effect for the Southeastern Bahamas.  Hurricane Warnings are also in effect for the North Coast of Cuban province of Holguin and the North Coast of Cuban province of Guantanamo to Punta Maisi.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the North Coast of Cuban province of  Las Tunas.

Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the South Coast of Cuban province of Guantanamo and the North Coast of Cuban province of Las Tunas.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the North Coast of Cuban province of Camaguey.

The center of Hurricane Oscar passed over Great Inagua early on Sunday.  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 somewhat favorable for intensification during the next few hours.  Oscar will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southeastern end of an upper level ridge over Cuba.  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.  The wind shear may be strong enough to prevent intensification.  Hurricane Oscar is likely to maintain its intensity during the next few 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-southwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Oscar will reach eastern Cuba on Sunday afternoon.

Hurricane Oscar will continue to strong winds and locally heavy rain to the Southeastern Bahamas during the next  few hours. Oscar will also bring strong winds and heavy rain to eastern Cuba on Sunday night.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Elsewhere, Tropical Depression Nadine was moving across southern Mexico. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Depression Nadine was located at latitude 16.8°N and longitude 91.8°W which put the center about 85 miles (135 km) east of Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico. Nadine was moving toward the west-southwest at 8 m.p.h. (14 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.