Tag Archives: 16L.AL16

Hurricane Oscar Brings Wind and Rain to Eastern Cuba

Hurricane Oscar brought wind and rain to eastern Cuba on Sunday night.  At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Hurricane Oscar was located at latitude 20.2°N and longitude 74.5°W which put the center about 45 miles (75 km) east of Guantanamo, Cuba.  Oscar was moving toward the west-southwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 988 mb.

Hurricane Warnings are 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 Southeastern Bahamas.  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.  A Tropical Storm Watch is also in effect for the Central Bahamas.

The center of Hurricane Oscar made landfall on the coast of eastern Cuba east of Guantanamo on Sunday evening.  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.

The circulation around Hurricane Oscar was very small.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 15 miles (25 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 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 across eastern Cuba on Sunday night and on Monday.

Hurricane Oscar will weaken to a tropical storm as it moves inland over eastern Cuba.  Even though Oscar will weaken, it will still bring strong winds and heavy rain to eastern Cuba.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Depression 16 Forms East of Northern Leeward Islands

Tropical Depression Sixteen formed east of the Northern Leeward Islands on Saturday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Depression Sixteen was located at latitude 16.4°N and longitude 53.1°W which put it about 670 miles (1080 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands. The tropical depression was moving toward the west-northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were’ wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1008 mb.

More thunderstorms developed near the center of a low pressure system east of the Northern Leeward Islands on Saturday night and the National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Depression Sixteen. Thunderstorms were also developing in bands in the eastern and northern parts of the tropical depression. Bands in the southern and western parts of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the north of the tropical depression.

Tropical Depression Sixteen will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. The depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge. The ridge will produce southerly winds that will blow toward the top of the tropical depression. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be strong enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Depression Sixteen is likely to strengthen to a tropical storm on Sunday. The tropical depression will move closer to an upper level trough northeast of Puerto Rico on Monday. The upper level trough will produce strong southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of the tropical depression. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear, which is likely to weaken the tropical depression.

Tropical Depression Sixteen will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer the depression toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Depression Sixteen could be northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands by Monday morning.

Elsewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Odette made a transition to an extratropical cyclone south of Nova Scotia. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of former Tropical Storm Odette was located at latitude 39.1°N and longitude 65.1°W which put it about 385 miles (625 km) south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Odette was moving toward the east-northeast at 18 m.p.h. (29 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were’ wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb.