Paloma strengthens, shifts slightly

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Paloma strengthens slightly Image: Accuweather

As it drew closer to the Cayman Islands coast this afternoon, Hurricane Paloma gained strength to become a strong Category 2 storm and shifted course slightly more to the north–east.

The news was not good.

A statement issued by the government at 4pm warned all coastal areas of Grand Cayman that they were under the threat of significant storm surge and urged residents in coastal areas to move to the highest point of the buildings they are in.

The storm had also slowed forward movement to some 6mph.

At 4.00pm EST, the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 18.7 north...longitude 81.3 west or about 40 miles south of Grand Cayman.

Paloma is moving toward the north–northeast near 6 mph. A turn toward the northeast is expected overnight and that general motion is expected for the next couple of days.

On the forecast track, the center of Paloma will pass near the Cayman Islands Friday night or early Saturday and be approaching the coast of central Cuba late Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. Further strengthening is likely, and Paloma could become a Category 3 hurricane Friday night or early Saturday. Slow weakening is possible by late Saturday.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 120 miles.

Storm surge flooding of five to seven feet above normal tide levels accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves is expected near the center of Paloma in the Cayman Islands.  Storm surge flooding of eight to 12 feet is expected near and to the east of where the center of Paloma makes landfall along the south coast of Cuba.

Paloma is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of five to 10 inches over the Cayman Islands and central and eastern Cuba with isolated maximum totals of 15 inches possible. Flash flooding and mudslides are also possible...especially in higher terrain.