Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Tropical Storm Oscar Swirls Toward the Bahamas After Killing 6 People in Cuba
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 8 months ago on
October 22, 2024

Tropical Storm Oscar, after causing havoc in Cuba, heads towards the Bahamas as forecasters warn of potential flooding. (AP/NOAA)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Tropical Storm Oscar chugged toward the Bahamas on Tuesday after making landfall in Cuba as a Category 1 hurricane, killing at least six people as it unleashed heavy rains on an island also hit by an unrelated massive power outage.

Oscar was located 70 miles (110 kilometers) east-southeast of Long Island in the Bahamas on Tuesday morning. The diminished storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was moving northeast at 12 mph (19 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

It was expected to drop up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain across the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. A tropical storm warning was in effect for the southeastern Bahamas.

Unexpected Intensity and Unusual Behavior

The storm made history as the smallest recorded hurricane, with a wind field of only about 6 miles (10 kilometers) across. It caught many by surprise as it made landfall in Grand Inagua Island in the Bahamas on Saturday and a second landfall in eastern Cuba late Sunday before making a sharp U-turn and heading back to the Bahamas.

“It’s not often we see a colossal failure in hurricane forecasting,” Michael Lowry, a hurricane specialist and storm surge expert, wrote in an analysis. He noted no models indicated Oscar would strengthen into a hurricane.

Impact on Cuba and Ongoing Challenges

Oscar dropped at least 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rain in parts of eastern Cuba on Monday, with forecasters warning of heavy flooding and possible landslides. The six deaths were reported in Guantánamo.

The storm hit as Cuba struggled to recover from a massive blackout that also sparked a handful of small protests and a stern government warning that any unrest will be punished.

Atlantic Hurricane Season Overview

Oscar is the 15th named storm and the 10th hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.

Long-range models are forecasting that another storm could develop in the central Caribbean in about a week.

“One last gasp may be in store for the Atlantic as we turn the calendar to November,” Lowry wrote.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year because of record-warm ocean temperatures. It forecast 17 to 25 named storms before the season ends, with four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Kristy swirled over open waters in the Pacific Ocean.

It was located 470 miles (755 kilometers) west-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, on Tuesday. It had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph) and was moving west at 16 mph (26 kph). Kristy is expected to become a hurricane by Tuesday night.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

World’s Largest Almond Processor Will Shutter Sacramento Plant. 600 Workers Impacted

DON'T MISS

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

DON'T MISS

Farming Regulation Costs Rise 1,300% Since 2006: Cal Poly

DON'T MISS

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

DON'T MISS

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

DON'T MISS

Doctors Were Preparing to Remove Their Organs. Then They Woke Up.

DON'T MISS

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

DON'T MISS

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

DON'T MISS

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

DON'T MISS

Documentary Series Goes Inside Trump’s Bubble

UP NEXT

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

UP NEXT

Farming Regulation Costs Rise 1,300% Since 2006: Cal Poly

UP NEXT

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

UP NEXT

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

UP NEXT

Doctors Were Preparing to Remove Their Organs. Then They Woke Up.

UP NEXT

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

UP NEXT

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

UP NEXT

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

UP NEXT

Documentary Series Goes Inside Trump’s Bubble

UP NEXT

Tulare County Gang Member Convicted of Trying to a Murder Police Officer

Ukrainian Attack Damaged 10% of Russia’s Strategic Bombers, Germany Says

2 hours ago

Riot Police, Anti-ICE Protesters Square Off in Los Angeles After Raids

2 hours ago

Sinner Bids for His First French Open Title Against Defending Champion Alcaraz

8 hours ago

Coco Gauff Defeats Top-Ranked Aryna Sabalenka in 3 Sets to Win Her First French Open Title

8 hours ago

Texas Beats Texas Tech in 3rd Game of WCWS to Win Its 1st National Championship

8 hours ago

Conforto Comes Through, Dodgers Rally in 8th for Victory Abetted by Mets Mishap

8 hours ago

Giants Beat the Slumping Braves in 10 Innings on a Wild Pitch

8 hours ago

Trans Troops, Facing a Deadline, Opt to Stay and Fight the Ban

10 hours ago

Can This 14-Year-Old Football Star Become a High School Millionaire?

10 hours ago

Trump EPA Moves to Roll Back Rules Projected to Save Billions of Dollars and Thousands of Lives

10 hours ago

Trump Says Musk Relationship Over, Warns of ‘Serious Consequences’ if He Funds Democrats

BEDMINSTER, New Jersey – Donald Trump said on Saturday his relationship with his billionaire donor Elon Musk is over and warned there ...

41 minutes ago

41 minutes ago

Trump Says Musk Relationship Over, Warns of ‘Serious Consequences’ if He Funds Democrats

1 hour ago

Iran Says It Obtained Sensitive Israeli Nuclear Documents

2 hours ago

Trump Has Options to Punish Musk Even if His Federal Contracts Continue

2 hours ago

Ukrainian Attack Damaged 10% of Russia’s Strategic Bombers, Germany Says

2 hours ago

Riot Police, Anti-ICE Protesters Square Off in Los Angeles After Raids

8 hours ago

Sinner Bids for His First French Open Title Against Defending Champion Alcaraz

8 hours ago

Coco Gauff Defeats Top-Ranked Aryna Sabalenka in 3 Sets to Win Her First French Open Title

8 hours ago

Texas Beats Texas Tech in 3rd Game of WCWS to Win Its 1st National Championship

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend