Paula strengthens into a category two hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean

[News_Editor]

Paula strengthens into a category two hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean

2010-10-13 02:49:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) -- Hurricane Paula strengthened into a category two storm in the northwestern Caribbean on early Tuesday afternoon, forecasters said.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center upgraded the hurricane after an Air Force Hurricane Hunter plane had entered the eye of Paula and encountered stronger winds than previously forecast.

As of 12.45 p.m. CDT (1745 GMT), the center of Paula was located about 220 kilometers (140 miles) south-southeast of Cozumel, an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. It is moving toward the north-northwest near 17 kilometers (10 miles) per hour.

"A turn toward the north is expected tonight and Wednesday," said Lixion Avila, a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center. "On the forecast track, the center of Paula will approach the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula within the hurricane warning area tonight and Wednesday."

As of Tuesday afternoon, a hurricane warning is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Punta Gruesa northward to Cabo Catoche, including Cozumel. Meanwhile, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Chetumal northward to south of Punta Gruesa and from Cabo Catoche to San Felipe.

According to Avila, data from the Air Force Hurricane Hunter plane showed that Paula's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 160 kilometers (100 miles) per hour, with higher gusts. "Paula is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale," he said. "Some slight strengthening is possible today and Wednesday."

However, Paula is an extremely small storm with hurricane winds extending outwards up to 20 kilometers (10 miles) from the center. Tropical storm winds extend outward up to 95 kilometers (60 miles).

"Tropical storm force winds are expected to reach the coast within the hurricane warning area by tonight, with hurricane conditions expected by early Wednesday" Avila said. "Paula is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches over eastern portions of the Yucatan Peninsula, and portions of western and central Cuba."

Avila said Paula may produce isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches and, especially in mountainous terrain over central and western Cuba, these rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

"A storm surge is expected to produce coastal flooding along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula," Avila added. "Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large waves."

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