Hurricane Paloma Continues Strengthening to Category 2

After reaching hurricane strength Thursday evening, Hurricane Paloma has continued intensifying today. The storm is now at Category 2, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Hurricane Warnings are in effect for the Cayman Islands and the Cuban provinces of Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, and Las Tunas. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Granma province.

Paloma is centered about 40 miles south of Grand Cayman, moving north northeast at 6 mph. The track is forecast to turn more toward the northeast tonight.

Further strengthening is likely, with the storm possibly becoming major (Category 3) before landfall on the southern coast of central Cuba.