Hurricane Oscar hits Cuba

Cuba's Granma newspaper reported on October 20 that Hurricane Oscar was a Category 1 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The storm made landfall, causing heavy rain and thunderstorms in some localities and mountainous areas in the east.

The US National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Oscar had maximum sustained winds of nearly 75 mph and was moving north, according to USA Today . Eastern Cuba is expected to receive 6 to 12 inches (150 to 300 mm) of rain, with some areas possibly receiving up to 18 inches (450 mm) by October 23, warning of possible storm surge.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel met with officials on October 20 to assess the storm and come up with solutions to minimize damage. Cuba has closed schools until October 23, with only essential workers returning to work on October 21.

Forecasters said the storm would weaken after making landfall, moving through the mountains of eastern Cuba, but Oscar could still maintain tropical storm force winds late on October 21.

The storm hit Cuba at a time when the country was experiencing a power outage due to a coal-fired power plant accident on October 18. The Cuban government said the power system would be restored by the evening of October 21, or at the latest October 22.