Tropical Storm Oscar, which reached hurricane strength over the weekend, is currently battering Cuba and could bring enough rain to trigger “life-threatening” flash flooding and mudslides.

Oscar made landfall in Cuba last night as a Category 1 hurricane, but has since weakened to a tropical storm.

The tropical storm, which passed through the southern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands on its journey west toward Cuba, is currently packing wind speeds of 45 miles per hour.

“By midweek, heavy rains from Oscar will cause significant and potentially life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides in parts of eastern Cuba, particularly in the Sierra Maestra,” warned the National Center for hurricanes in a press release.

Tropical storm force winds are expected to hit much of the southeastern part of the island nation today and tomorrow. Intense rainfall is forecast, with between 7 and 14 inches of rain, up to 20 inches in some areas. Additionally, storm surges are expected along the coast.

“High water levels in onshore wind areas along the east coast of Cuba will gradually decrease later today and tonight. Near the coast, large and dangerous waves will continue early Tuesday,” the statement said. NHC. “Preliminary reports in Guantanamo province in eastern Cuba already indicate that more than 10 inches of rain fell in places.”

This comes after millions of people across Cuba suffered a power outage for several days due to the failure of one of the island’s main power plants.

Oscar quickly strengthened from a tropical storm to a hurricane on Saturday, reaching a maximum wind speed of 85 mph, before strengthening into a tropical storm on Sunday afternoon after making landfall in Cuba.

“It is less common for storms to develop further east in the basin in mid/late October than in the western Caribbean,” said Nicholas Grondin, assistant professor of environmental studies at the University of Tampa . News week. “Like all tropical cyclones, sufficient warm ocean water to fuel the storm is essential for development.”

The tropical storm is expected to weaken further as it passes through Cuba and not intensify further as it travels northeast across the Caribbean.

“Further weakening is expected as Oscar continues to interact with the eastern Cuban landmass today, and Oscar may weaken to a tropical depression before the circulation moves over the “water,” the NHC said.

“Thereafter, the system will face increasing vertical westerly wind shear and drier air. Therefore, only slight strengthening is expected in the coming days, followed by a slight change in strength before ‘Oscar is not absorbed by the non-tropical low pressure system.

“According to the forecast track, the center of Oscar is expected to continue moving across eastern Cuba until this afternoon, then emerge off the northern coast of Cuba later today or this evening and move near the southeast and central Bahamas on Tuesday.”

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