In its tropical cyclone warning number two, issued at 6:00 p.m. local time, it detailed that its maximum sustained winds increased to 85 kilometers per hour, with higher gusts, and its minimum pressure dropped to 995 hectopascals.
At the time of this communication, the central region of the tropical storm was estimated at 19.8 degrees north latitude and 84.9 degrees west longitude, a position that places it about 235 kilometers south of Cape San Antonio, the westernmost point of Cuba, and it is moving in a direction close to west-northwest at a rate of 19 kilometers per hour.
Experts predict that in the next 12 to 24 hours it will continue to move through the western Caribbean Sea, inclining its path to the northwest tonight and to the north-northwest in the early morning, slightly decreasing its speed of movement.
They warn that Helene will continue to gain in organization and intensity, and could become a hurricane tomorrow Wednesday, entering the Gulf of Mexico.
They predict a gradual increase in rainfall in the western and central region of Cuba, which will become strong and intense in some localities.
These precipitations will continue during the night today and tomorrow, possibly persisting until Thursday. According to Insmet, tropical storm force winds may begin to be reported tonight in the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud and in the province of Pinar del Río, with speeds between 55 and 70 kilometers per hour, which will extend from the end of the night and Wednesday morning to the province of Artemisa.
Meanwhile, in the western end of the island the wind force will increase from the early hours of tomorrow.
In addition, there will be swells on the southern coast of the provinces from Pinar del Río to Sancti Spíritus, which will reach strong swells south of Isla de la Juventud and the Canarreos archipelago, as well as on both coasts of the province of Pinar del Río, with light to moderate coastal flooding on the southwestern coast.
Forecasters also warn that in areas of showers and thunderstorms there may be an increase in wind strength and wave height, even in areas far from Helene’s center of circulation.
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