Michael Might Become a Hurricane Soon; Western Cuba under Alert

Tropical storm Michael, the season's 14th, is expected to become a hurricane very soon, as heavy rainfall and strong winds are spreading across western Cuba, the island''s meteorological institute has warned.

During Monday's early hours, Michael reportedly continued to gain organization and intensity. It is now packing winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour with higher gusts as its central pressure has reduced to 983 hectoPascal, conditions that might soon turn it into a hurricane by Monday afternoon.

At 07:00 Havana time, the center of the storm was located near latitude 20.9 North, longitude 85.1 West. Michael is moving toward the north near at 11 km/h.

Its force winds extend outward up to 280 kilometers from the center.

Rainfall is already affecting the Cuban western provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, Mayabeque, Havana and the Isle of Youth. The climatological situation will worsen as the storm approaches the island.

Cuban authorities have issued an alert and instructed local governments to apply all foreseeable measures and plans to minimize the risks of disaster.

A northward motion at a slightly faster forward speed is expected through Tuesday night, followed by a northeastward motion on Wednesday and

Thursday, threatening then the western coast of the state of Florida.

On the forecast track, Michael will move northward across the Yucatan Channel today, and then across the eastern Gulf of Mexico this evening through Wednesday.

Michael is forecast to be near or at major hurricane strength when it reaches the northeastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Meteorological services warn that combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause low coastal areas to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline with waves of up to three meters high.