Hurricane Oscar Rapidly Intensifies to Category 1 with 80 mph Winds, 10th of Season

Oct 19, 2024, 06:07 PM

Hurricane Oscar has rapidly intensified into a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, making it the tenth hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm, which was unnamed just hours ago, has seen a significant jump in intensity, with a pressure reading in the 980s mb. Oscar intensified by 40 kts (45 mph) in 12 hours. Hurricane Warnings have been issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeast Bahamas. The storm is expected to impact eastern Cuba, which is currently experiencing an island-wide blackout. Despite its rapid intensification, Oscar's small size and relatively drier air are expected to limit its growth before landfall.