Caribbean, Central America brace for Tropical Storm Sandy
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E-mail Xinhua, October 24, 2012
Caribbean and Central American countries were bracing Tuesday as Tropical Storm Sandy whipped closer, threatening to reach hurricane strength and lash the region with heavy rains and strong winds.
Cuba was closely monitoring the storm, expected to hit the east- central part of the island with by late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to a report Tuesday from Cuba's National Meteorology Institute (INSMET).
A late-season storm, Sandy took shape last weekend over warm Caribbean waters, then continued to strengthen Tuesday, the INSMET said.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (CNH) issued a report at 11 a.m. GMT Tuesday saying the storm was located 480 kilometers southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph).
Sandy was expected to move across Jamaica Wednesday, where a hurricane warning was in effect and the storm was already drenching parts of the island Tuesday, and eastern Cuba.
In nearby Haiti, where a tropical storm warning was in effect, authorities declared a medium-level orange alert, calling on residents to be mindful.
A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected within 24 to 36 hours.
Even though Haiti was not in the storm's trajectory, the country's National Meteorological Center (CNM) said strong rains and thunderstorms could still affect parts of the island, including the departments of South, Southeast, Nippes and Grand Anse, throughout Wednesday morning.
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