The Forecast Center of the Cuban Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) released Tropical Cyclone Alert No. 1 this Saturday, highlighting the emergence of Tropical Storm Oscar and its potential threats to the eastern region of the island. Originating from a low-pressure area north of the Dominican Republic, the storm has recently intensified and become more organized, as noted in their statement.
Oscar, marking the fifteenth tropical storm of the current cyclone season, is currently exhibiting maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour with stronger gusts, and a central minimum pressure of 1007 hectopascals. The system is moving westward at a pace of 20 kilometers per hour, with projections indicating a possible landfall in Holguín before veering northeast.
As of 11:00 AM on October 19, the storm's center was pinpointed at 21.3 degrees latitude North and 70.2 degrees longitude West, roughly 170 kilometers north of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and 430 kilometers east-northeast of Punta de Maisí, Cuba's easternmost point. Oscar is anticipated to maintain its westward trajectory over the next 12 to 24 hours, while continuing to strengthen and organize.
Forecasts suggest the system will traverse over the seas north of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the eastern Bahamas, approaching Cuba’s eastern region by Sunday. As it nears, Oscar is expected to slow its forward movement. Meteorological conditions in eastern Cuban provinces are likely to worsen starting tomorrow, featuring increased cloud cover, rainfall, thunderstorms, and winds reaching tropical storm strength. Additionally, high waves are predicted along the northern coasts of Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas.
In related news, the fourteenth tropical storm of the season, Nadine, has also formed, positioned approximately 190 kilometers east of Belize City. It is on a westerly course, traveling at 13 kilometers per hour.