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Friday, November 7, 2008
Paloma reaches Category 3
Update: The forecast track at 10 p.m. (above) has shifted Paloma to the north by next week, pulling a piece of South Florida into the five-day cone of uncertainty. But the storm is projected to diminish to a “remnant low” with winds of 25-35 mph by Tuesday and Wednesday, presenting a greatly reduced threat.
Original post:
Paloma has become a “dangerous” Category 3 hurricane with winds up to 115 mph as it batters Grand Cayman on the way to Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said at 7 p.m.
South Florida remains out of the cone of probabilty, though some computer models show a weakened Paloma drifting westward in the Bahamas in the direction of South Florida early next week. Wind shear — powerful winds that break up hurricanes — and other factors are expected to pare down its strength starting Sunday.
“There probably won’t be much left of Paloma if it makes that westward turn due to the extremely high shear,” NHC specialists Eric Blake and James Franklin wrote in afternoon discussion.
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Paloma amps up to Category 2
Paloma has become a Category 2 hurricane with winds near 105 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in its 4 p.m. advisory.
That’s only 6 mph from a Category 3 storm, which would classify Paloma as a major hurricane. Paloma could become a Cat 3 later today.
“Category Two Paloma lashing Grand Cayman,” the advisory said.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands. Cuba has issued a hurricane watch for the province of Granma.
The five day forecast continues to show the storm bending southeast of South Florida, with some weakening expected by Saturday.
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Hurricane Paloma could reach Category 3 by tonight
Rapidly intensifying, Hurricane Paloma could reach Category 3 status as early as tonight, National Hurricane Center forecasters said at 1 p.m.
NHC: “PALOMA IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. FURTHER STRENGTHENING IS LIKELY AND PALOMA IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE LATER TODAY…AND POSSIBLY REACH CATEGORY THREE INTENSITY LATE TONIGHT OR ON SATURDAY.”
The storm is 60 miles south of Grand Cayman and moving north-northeast at 6 mph. It forecast track takes it across central Cuba and through the Bahamas.
Category 1: winds at least 74 mph; Cat 2: at least 96 mph; Cat 3: at least 111 mph
