Storm Idalia close to becoming a hurricane near Cuba

Tropical storm Idalia is about to become a hurricane as it approaches Cape San Antonio, the westernmost tip of Cuba, the Institute of Meteorology (Insmet) reported today.

According to the most recent report, the satellite and radar images show strong rain activity concentrated around the center of circulation, which shows a better organization and intensity of the system.

The clouds with showers, rains and electrical storms, associated with this tropical storm, continue to affect the western half of Cuba, with the areas of greatest rain intensity over the provinces of Pinar del Río, Artemisa and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud.

In the last hours, Idalia has maintained a course to the north with a translation speed of 13 kilometers per hour.

Its maximum sustained winds continue to be 110 kilometers per hour, with higher gusts and a minimum pressure of 987 hectoPascal.

At 6:00 p.m. local time on Monday, its center was estimated at 21.5 degrees North latitude and 85.1 degrees West longitude, 45 kilometers south-southwest of Cape San Antonio in the province of Pinar del Río. ef/

According to the Insmet, Idalia will maintain its displacement with a course close to the north, gaining in organization and intensity, to become a hurricane during the next hours, while it approaches the extreme west of Cuba.

The center of this tropical organism will be near or over Cape San Antonio between 20:00 and 21:00 local time.

The experts pointed out that the probability of rains remains high in a large part of the country, particularly in the western half, where they could be strong and intense in some locations.

Strong winds were reported in the province of Havana, where the Casa Blanca meteorological station registered a gust of 82 kilometers per hour from the south and another of 80 kilometers per hour in Cape San Antonio.

Coastal flooding continues in the low-lying areas of the southern coast of the western region and reports have been received from Isla de la Juventud, La Bajada in the province of Pinar del Río and Surgidero de Batabanó in Mayabeque.

In the next 24 hours, winds will blow from the southeast to the south between 20 and 35 kilometers per hour in the west and center, between 65 and 80 kilometers per hour in Pinar del Río, with higher gusts.