Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flew into the low pressure area in the western Caribbean Sea and found a low pressure of 1004 mb and enough wind (35 mph) and a solid circulation to classify Tropical Depression 17.

The system continues to show signs of development and is forecast to develop into Tropical Storm Paloma on Thursday and then reach hurricane status by Friday afternoon.

Tropical Depression 17 is forecast to move slowly and approach the northern Nicaragua to Honduras coastal areas and become a Tropical Storm.

Tropical Storm Watches have been posted from Puerto Cabezas northward to the Honduras Border northward to Limon Honduras.

The future forecast track shows Tropical Depression going to Tropical Storm Paloma to Hurricane Paloma. Residents living or people planning on visiting the Caymans to western Jamaica to Cuba will need to monitor this system very closely.

A threat of heavy rain and gusty winds along eastern Honduras to extreme northeastern Nicaragua could pose a threat for flash flooding through Thursday.

 

Tropical Storm Paloma was located about 75 miles northeast of the Nicaragua/Honduras border, moving to the north-northwest at 7 mph. Maximum sustained winds near the center have increased to 45 mph.

Paloma will bring a heavy rain, flash flood, and gusty winds threat to the northern Nicaragua and Honduras coastal areas plus the Cayman Islands today. Tropical Storm Watches have been posted for parts of the area.

Over the next few days, the system could turn from its northerly track to a northeasterly track. This would bring it across the Caribbean, impacting the Cayman Islands and eventually central Cuba by late this weekend into early week.

Paloma could become a hurricane Friday.

At 7 p.m. EST, Hurricane Paloma was located about 165 miles south of the Cayman Islands moving to the north at 12 mph. Maximum sustained winds near the center have increased to 75 mph.

Paloma will bring a heavy rain, flash flood, and gusty winds threat to the northern Nicaragua and Honduras coastal areas plus the Cayman Islands. Hurricane warnings have been posted for the Caymans.

Over the next few days, the system could turn from its northerly track to a northeasterly track. This would bring it across the Caribbean, impacting the Cayman Islands soon and eventually central Cuba by late this weekend into early week.

 

Very small but strengthening Hurricane Paloma was located about 75 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman Island moving to the north at 7 mph. Maximum sustained winds near the center have increased to 85 mph.

Paloma is already bringing bands of heavy rain to the Cayman Islands and the winds will soon be on the increase as well. Overnight, Paloma will continue to strengthen and could be a strong Category 2 storm as it passes close to or over Grand Cayman Island. Hurricane warnings have been posted for the Caymans. All preparations should be quickly completed.

Over the weekend, the system's track should turn increasingly northeastward. Paloma could briefly reach major hurricane status as it passes north of the remainder of the Cayman Islands Saturday.

Paloma will next target east-central Cuba later Saturday and Sunday. Increasing westerly wind shear aloft plus Cuba's topography should quickly weaken Paloma to a tropical storm after landfall but flooding rains and damaging winds are still likely. A hurricane watch has been issued for the provinces of Sancti Spiritus, Ciego De Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas and Granma.

here's what November storms in the past did after being where Paloma is now:

 

Paloma was downgraded to a tropical depression Sunday afternoon. The interaction with Cuba and strong southwesterly shear aloft has dissipated Paloma into a remnant low.

As of 10 p.m. EST Sunday night, Paloma's remnant low was about 40 miles north of Camaguey, Cuba, and had maximum winds around 30 miles per hour. The remnant low was moving slowly to the north around 3 miles per hour.

The last advisory has been issued.

Added 2008

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