Storm Laura gains intensity in its journey through southern Cuba

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24 August 2020

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Havana, Aug 24 (Prensa Latina) In its move through Cuba's southern coasts, Tropical Storm Laura continues its journey through the Jardines de la Reina archipelago and may gain intensity in its movement to warm waters, Cuba's Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) warns on Monday.

In its most recent report, INSMET states that the center of the storm was estimated at 20.9 degrees North latitude and 79.2 degrees West longitude, about 80 kilometers south of Jucaro, Ciego de Avila province, and 190 kilometers east-southeast of Cienfuegos city.

Laura continues its rapid movement to the west-northwest, at 33 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour and higher gusts. The central pressure is 1,000 hectoPascals.

The report highlights that the cloudy areas with the heaviest rains are located in the southern semicircle, over the southeastern region and seas next to Jamaica. They are generated by storm clouds that have reached heights between 12 and 14 kilometers.

In addition, some more scattered areas of heavy rains are developing in the last hours over the southeastern Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo provinces.

Predicted as active, the 2020 Atlantic and Caribbean hurricane season is the first hurricane season on record in which nine tropical storms formed before August 1.