Hurricane Paula heading for Cuba

CNN: Category 2 Hurricane Paula was brushing the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday and heading for Cuba, forecasters said. As of 8 a.m., the center of Paula was moving over the Yucatan Channel between Mexico and Cuba, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. It was about 55 miles (90 kilometers) east of Cancun, Mexico, and about 70 miles (115 kilometers) west-southwest of the western tip of Cuba.

The storm was packing winds of 100 mph (160 kph) as it moves north at about 9 mph (15 kph). It was expected to continue moving north for the next few hours, then turn northeast and slow later Wednesday, the hurricane center said.

Hurricane warnings were in effect for the coast of Mexico from Punta Allen north to Cabo Catoche, including Cozumel, and for the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio. Tropical storm warnings were in effect for the Mexican coast from Cabo Catoche to San Felipe, although forecasters said the Yucatan warnings likely will be canceled later Wednesday.

Tropical storm-force winds affecting Mexico are forecast to diminish later Wednesday, forecasters said. Tropical storm-force winds are anticipated to reach western Cuba by Wednesday afternoon, with hurricane conditions expected Wednesday night. "The small core of Hurricane Paula will continue to move over the Yucatan Channel today and be near or over western Cuba by tonight or early Thursday," the hurricane center said….

Hurricane Paula, October 12, 2010