The initial images capturing Hurricane Oscar's fury in Baracoa reveal the ferocity of the storm, marked by powerful winds, heavy rainfall, and massive waves battering Cuba's oldest city. Content shared on social media vividly illustrates the significant impact of this cyclonic system on the island's easternmost region.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Oscar made landfall at 5:50 PM on Sunday in Baracoa, with winds reaching approximately 80 mph, classifying it as a Category 1 hurricane. The NHC's seventh update on the storm indicated a minimum central pressure of 986 mb (29.12 inches), verified through prior observations from an Air Force reconnaissance flight.
At the time of landfall, Oscar's center was located at 20.3 degrees North latitude and 74.4 degrees West longitude, positioning it roughly 6 miles east-southeast of Baracoa and about 50 miles east of Guantánamo. The hurricane's arrival comes at a particularly challenging time for Cuba, which has been grappling with a nationwide blackout since last Friday. Consequently, the necessary evacuation and precautionary measures have been severely curtailed.
Reports on social media underscore the hurricane's threat to a population that, due to the power outage, has not had adequate access to crucial information needed to brace for the cyclone. The island's Institute of Meteorology has issued a tropical cyclone warning, noting that wind speeds are expected to surge overnight, potentially reaching between 53 and 62 mph, with even stronger gusts.
"Winds could escalate to hurricane strength, with speeds up to 74 mph in the provinces of Guantánamo and Holguín, especially near the hurricane's center," the warning adds. In the northeastern coast, severe wave activity will persist, particularly along the northern shores of Guantánamo and Holguín, extending northward towards Las Tunas during the night. Coastal flooding, ranging from moderate to severe, is anticipated to continue affecting low-lying areas in this region, including the Baracoa waterfront.