MIAMI, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Hurricane Paula was headed toward the Yucatan Channel and western Cuba Tuesday evening, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
In its 11 p.m. EDT update, the center said Paula, a Category 2 hurricane, was about 70 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and about 145 miles south-southwest of the western tip of Cuba, with top sustained winds of 100 mph. The storm was moving toward the north at 9 mph.
The storm was likely to continue on the same general motion with a decrease in forward speed Tuesday night, before turning toward the northeast Wednesday, forecasters said. On its current track, the storm was likely to reach the Yucatan Channel Wednesday and be near or over western Cuba by Wednesday night or early Thursday, forecasters in Miami said.
Little change in strength was likely Tuesday night and early Wednesday and the storm was expected to weaken gradually Wednesday.
The Cuban government issued a hurricane warning for the province of Pinar del Rio. The Mexican government discontinued a hurricane warning south of Punta Allen.
A hurricane warning was in effect for the coast of Mexico from Punta Allen northward to Cabo Catoche, including Cozumel. A tropical storm warning was in effect for the coast of Mexico from Cabo Catoche to San Felipe.
Tropical storm force winds were expected to reach the Mexican coast by Tuesday night, with hurricane conditions expected by early Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center said some areas could see as much as 10 inches of rain with Paula.
A storm surge is expected to produce flooding along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and on the Bay Islands of Honduras.
