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Hurricane Paula

Hurricane Paula track

Hurricane Paula was the sixteenth named storm and the ninth hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. Paula developed from an area of low pressure in the southwestern Caribbean Sea in early October. It slowly organised, and the National Hurricane Center declared it a tropical storm, giving it the name Paula on October 11 while located 105 miles (169 km) east-southeast of Isla Guanaja, Honduras. It was declared by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) because satellite imagery, surface observations and data from an Hurricane Hunters aircraft indicated that the area of low pressure had became a tropical storm. After intensifying into a category 2 hurricane with 85 knot (100 mph) winds, and maintaining category 2 intensity from 1245 p.m. Tuesday October 12 to 4 p.m. Wednesday October 13, Paula weakened to a tropical storm with winds of just 70 mph while located 110 miles west-southwest of Havana, Cuba at 11 a.m. Thursday. At 11 a.m. Hurricane Paula weakened to a remnant low, while located 20 miles north of Caibarien, Cuba. The remnant low of Hurricane Paula continued to drift near Cuba until it dissipated on October 16.

In Cuba, the outer bands of Paula brought heavy localised rains, especially to the Isla de la Juventud where 71 mm (2.8 in) of precipitation was recorded on October 12. As Hurricane Paula neared landfall in the country on October 13, heavy rain fell across much of Pinar del Río Province. In Cape San Antonio, 4.85 in (123 mm) of rain fell by the morning of October 14. The highest winds recorded during the storm's passage were measured in Puerto Esperanza at 68 mph (109 km/h). Throughout the country, Paula resulted in relatively little damage. Near Havana, a few homes lost their roofs and power was lost to many homes, mostly as a result of a precautionary power shutdown. High winds also downed numerous trees, blocking many roads. Along the coast, rough seas damaged parts of the capital city's seawall. Some streets near the shore were left under 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) of water at the height of the storm. By the afternoon of October 15, emergency crews began clearing debris left behind by the storm.

2010-10-15 18.00 GMT - Paula is slowly dissipating while moving over central parts of Cuba. At 12.00 local Cuban time the remains of Tropical Depression Paula became a low pressure area with centre close to the town of Caibarien in the Villa Clara region. The maximum sustained winds have decreased to 35 km/h (20mph). Paula is moving eastward at about 15km/h (8mph). It is expected to dissipates completely in the next four-five hours.

2010-10-15 14.00 GMT - Paula has continued to weaken and now has maximum sustained winds of 55 mph (85 km/h) with some strong gusts. At 06.00 local cuban time Paula was in central parts of Matanzas region and was moving east at the speed of 22 mph (38 km/h). It is expected that, in the next 12 to 24 hours, the tropical depression will continue to move east with similar travel speed, further weakening over Cuban territory.

2010-10-15 11.00 GMT - As of 05.00 GMT today, while it is nearing Central Cuba, Paula has been downgraded from Tropical Storm to Tropical Depression which means that maximum sustained winds have fallen below 110 km/h (70mph). When it struck western tip of Cuba on Thursday Paula was graded still as a Category 1 hurricane, but quickly weaken to tropical storm. Despite loosing its strength it still produced substantial rainfall which cause flooding and power cuts in some parts of Pinar del Rio, a region know for the tobacco growing. Preparations were taken ahead of Paula to protect the tobacco crop. The tropical storm moved inland over western Cuba during Thursday afternoon, about 40 miles southwest of Havana, the capital city and major commercial centre of Cuba. Wind gusts of up to 54 mph lashed Havana during the evening, downing trees, lampposts and power lines. Many areas in the city had power outages and lost water services. The heavy rain resulted in street flooding, especially in poor drainage areas. Paula continued to weaken into a tropical depression as it interacted with land deep into Thursday night and Friday morning. The rain and gusty winds will taper off across the country as the depression pulls away today.

2010-10-14 17.00 GMT - The western province of Pinar del Rio is affected by Hurricane Paula's rain and strong gusts of wind and they are slowly spreading east, towards Havana region. The winds will subside gradually, but will remain strong and intense in some parts of Pinar del Rio. The unrest of the sea will continue on the north coast and will extend through the night. Paula has continued to weaken and is now a tropical storm with maximum sustained central winds in the area of 110 mph. It is expected that in the next 12 to 24 hours Paula will continue to weaken even further and may become a tropical depression or a low pressure area. The remnant of the hurricane's rain may be felt during next 24 - 48 hours in all of the Cuba's west, including Isla de la Juventud island.

2010-10-14 04.00 GMT - Paula is weakening as it approaches Western Cuba. The center of Hurricane Paula was located near latitude 21.9 North and longitude 85.4, about 45 km west of the Cabo de San Antonio. The hurricane is moving toward the Northeast near 6 km per hour. On this track Paula will be passing very near or over Western Cuba on Thursday. Its maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 130 km per hour with higher gusts. Paula is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3-6 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches, possible over portions of Western and Central Cuba. Additional weakening is expected during the next 24-28 hours and Paula is forecast to become a tropical storm on Thursday. Now Paula is a category one hurricane on the SAFFIR-SIMPSON hurricane wind scale.

2010-10-13 22.30 GMT - HURRICANE PAULA's rain is hitting the Pinar del Rio province. The winds will be increased gradually, starting from the western part of Pinar del Rio, reaching force of tropical storm from the next night and dawn. A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 4-6 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast in areas of onshore flow over extreme western Cuba. The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. The center of the HURRICANE PAULA was located near latitude 21.7 North longitude 85.6 West. Paula is moving toward the North-Northeast near 7 km per hour and a turn to the Northeast and East is expected on Thursday. On this track Paula will be passing very near or over Western Cuba by tonight or early Thursday. Its maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 140 km per hour with higher gusts. Paula is a category one hurricane on the SAFFIR-SIMPSON hurricane wind scale. A gradual weakening is expected during the next day or two.

2010-10-13 16.30 GMT - The outskirts of the HURRICANE PAULA are nearing Cabo de San Antonio. As a consequence, Pinar del Rio province will experience strong rain this afternoon. The winds will be increased gradually, starting from the west part of the Pinar del Rio region, and reach the force of hurricane from next dawn. At the same time, the waves will be increased on the north coast of Pinar del Rio as well as in the South coast, with possible coastal floods. The center of HURRICANE PAULA was located near latitude 21.3 North longitude 85.8 West. Paula is moving toward the North near 7 km per hour but it should turn to the Northeast and East later today. On this track the small core of HURRICANE PAULA will continue to move over the Yucatan channel today and be near or over Western Cuba by night on early Thursday. Its maximum sustained winds remain near 160 km per hour with higher gusts. Little change in strenght is expected this afternoon but the hurricane should begin to weaken tonight. PAULA is a category two hurricane on the SAFFIR-SIMPSON hurricane wind scale.

13th October 2010, 13.00PM GMT - Hurricane Paula has brushed off the Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula coast without causing much damage. Western Cuba, however, will likely not be so fortunate, the experts predict. It still remains a powerful Category 2 hurricane that is passing within 70 miles east of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Paula is a very compact hurricane with tropical storm-force winds extending up to 60 miles away from its center. That distance is down to 15 miles in terms of the destructive hurricane-force winds. It is expected to slam into western Cuba tonight as a Category 1 hurricane. The torrential rain bands will increase and Paula will unleash its strongest winds tonight into Thursday. The winds will be capable of causing widespread tree damage and power outages. Poorly constructed homes and older mobile homes will sustain significant damage. The winds will become less destructive into Saturday as Paula weakens over Cuba. The hurricane's interaction with land and an increase in wind shear (strong winds high in the atmosphere) will lead to Paula's eventual demise. Despite weakening, Paula will still spread torrential rainfall across western and central Cuba into Saturday. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches with localized totals up to 10 inches threaten to ignite significant flooding and mudslides.

13th October 2010, 9.30AM GMT - Hurricane Paula is in the Gulf of Honduras and is moving towards the eastern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The storm has been marked as a category two hurricane with sustained winds of 160km/h (100mph). After brushing the Yucatan Peninsula Paula is expected to head towards northeastern part of Cuba (Pinar del Rio). The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said the hurricane could get close to western Cuba by Wednesday night or early Thursday. Hurricane Paula is the ninth hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic season.