Hurricane warning issued

(CNS): Updated — 6:30 pm local time:  TheHazard Management Cayman Islands’ Joint Communications Service (HMCI-JCS) has issued a hurricane warning on Tropical Storm Paloma. Tropical storm force may start to affect the Cayman Islands by tomorrow morning (Friday, 7 November). The unusual direction of approach means that most storm effects will be experienced along the southern coast of Grand Cayman and the SMB area.

At 4 pm this afternoon Tropical Storm Paloma was located near 16.3 N 81.8 W or 210 miles south of Grand Cayman, moving north at 8 mph and expected to turn northeast. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. Paloma maydeposit in excess of 4 to 8 inches of additional rainfall through Monday morning, bringing flooding to already-saturated low-lying areas.

As the storm has shifted TS force winds may start to affect the Cayman Islands as early as 11 o’clock Friday morning (7 November).Residents should hurry to complete all storm preparations for hurricane conditions by this evening  afternoon (Friday, 7 November) and maintain a state of readiness, say the JCS. All residents should continue to monitor their local media for updates on Tropical Storm Paloma. While late in the season, residents must neither be complacent nor underestimate the likely strength of this weather system.

There is no mandatory evacuation order in effect and visitors who would like to leave are being advised to contact their airline or Cayman Airways. All government offices and schools will be closed tomorrow and most shelers will begin opening in the morning as needed.

The RCIPS would like to inform all police staff currently on leave that they should consider themselves on stand-by for duty. A further decision in relation to resourcing will be made tomorrow and an announcement will be made.