Hurricane Oscar has made landfall near Baracoa, in the province of Guantánamo, affecting the eastern areas of Cuba with rain and strong winds. At six in the afternoon, the center of the hurricane was located at 20.3 degrees north latitude and 74.4 degrees west longitude, positioned 10 kilometers east-southeast of Baracoa and 40 kilometers northwest of Punta de Maisí. Both towns, located in the province of Guantánamo, are receiving the direct effects of the hurricane.
Oscar maintains maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and higher gusts, which classifies it as a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The minimum pressure in its center has remained at 986 hectopascals. From eight in the morning until four in the afternoon, significant rainfall was recorded, such as 123.5 millimeters of rain at the Punta de Maisí meteorological station.
In the next few hours, rain, thunderstorms and showers are expected throughout the eastern region. These precipitations could be heavy and intense, especially in mountainous areas. Water accumulations could vary between 100 and 200 millimeters in several provinces in the east of the country.
The deterioration of the climate has continued, and in Punta de Maisí, wind gusts of up to 130 kilometers per hour have been recorded at six in the afternoon, with sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour. During the night, winds could increase their speed to between 85 and 100 kilometers per hour, with even more intense gusts. In the provinces of Guantánamo and Holguín, near the center of the hurricane, winds are expected to reach up to 120 kilometers per hour, which could increase the impact of the phenomenon in those areas.
In addition to the winds, the storm surges on the northern coast of Guantánamo and Holguín have been intense. These conditions could extend to the northern coast of Las Tunas overnight. In the low areas of the eastern coast, such as the Baracoa seawall, moderate to strong coastal flooding continues to occur.
The population of the eastern provinces must remain attentive to the evolution of Hurricane Oscar, which could continue to generate dangerous conditions in the coming hours. The authorities will issue the next notice at nine pm this Sunday.
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