Article first published: Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, 10 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, 1 p.m. ET

The National Hurricane Center’s 1 pm Saturday advisory reported that Oscar has become a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph after intensifying from a tropical storm. Category 1 Hurricane Oscar is 165 miles east-southeast of the Southeastern Bahamas and 470 miles east of Camaguey Cuba, with maximum sustained wind of 80 mph. It’s moving at 12 mph to the west. Forecasters announced a hurricane warning for Turks, Caicos Islands and southeast Bahamas.

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of the Bahamas has issued a Hurricane Warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas.

The government of Cuba has issued a Hurricane Watch for the provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected to first reach the coast within the warning area tonight, with tropical storm conditions expected to begin this afternoon, making outside preparations dangerous. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area on Sunday.

RAINFALL: Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated amounts of 6 inches, are expected across the Turks and Caicos, southeastern Cuba, and the southeastern Bahamas through Tuesday.

For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Oscar, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml? Rainqpf .

STORM SURGE: A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where water levels are expected to be between 2 and 4 feet. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Source: National Hurricane Center