Hurricane Oscar makes landfall in Bahamas; not expected to threaten Florida

Hurricane Oscar made landfall early Sunday in the southeastern Bahamas and was heading toward Cuba.

Oscar formed Saturday off the coast of the Bahamas and brushed past the Turks and Caicos islands to the south. Philippe Papin of the National Hurricane Center said it was somewhat unexpected that Oscar became a hurricane Saturday.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm’s center is expected to produce a dangerous storm surge that could translate into significant coastal flooding there and in other areas of the southeastern Bahamas. Forecasters said five to 10 inches of rain are expected across eastern Cuba through Tuesday, with some isolated locations getting up to 15 inches.

Models show Oscar making a sharp right turn into the Atlantic Ocean, slowing it down and eventually causing it to collapse due to strong wind sheer out of the north. According to FOX 13 Meteorologist Valerie Mills, Hurricane Oscar poses no threat to Florida or the continental United States.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were clocked at 80 mph with higher gusts. Its center was located about 150 miles east-northeast of Guantanamo, Cuba. The storm was heading west at 12 mph and was expected to reach Cuba on Sunday afternoon at hurricane strength.

The hurricane’s approach comes as Cuba tries to recover from its worst blackout in at least two years, which left millions without power for two days last week. Some electrical service was restored Saturday.