November 8, 2008

Hurricane Paloma could become Category 3 storm

The National Hurricane Center Friday said that Hurricane Paloma is forecast to become a Category 3 storm over the weekend.

Forecasters expect the center of Paloma, classified as a Category 1 hurricane, to pass near the Cayman Islands late Friday or early Saturday. The storm would become a Category 3 once its winds reach 111 mph.

At 7 a.m. ET, Paloma was centered about 85 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman and about 245 miles west of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Its maximum sustained winds were 80 mph, with higher gusts.

The storm was tracking to the north at 8 mph and was expected to continue on that path throughout the day before gradually turning to the northeast by Saturday, forecasters said.

It's projected path would steer the storm away from the U.S. mainland.