SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, Mexico.- Havana authorities suspended the service of the “Rula boat” this Wednesday, due to the proximity of Hurricane Helenewhich has weakened the weather conditions in the country.
The Provincial Transport Company of Havana communicated that due to the impact of heavy rains, it was decided to cancel the service from 08:30 on September 25, 2024.
The measure will remain in place until the weather permits, the report said.
The decision seeks to guarantee the safety of passengers and protect the vessel as the hurricane passes near Cuba.
On the other hand, this Tuesday, the Cuban Maritime Administration (AMC) also suspended circulation in the Gulf of Batabanó, affecting the ports of Batabanó, Nueva Gerona and Cayo Largo del Sur.
The inclement winds and rain associated with Helene are already being felt in Pinar del Río.
The meteorological phenomenon, located near Cozumel, Mexico, records sustained winds of 130 km/h.
The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued in its bulletin Most recently a Storm Surge Warning for Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor and a Hurricane Warning for Cabo Catoche in Tulum, Mexico including Cozumel; a Storm Surge Watch for Indian Pass and a Hurricane Watch for the province of Pinar del Rio.
The Cuban Maritime Administration (AMC) decided on Tuesday to suspend navigation in the Gulf of Batabanó, in the west of the country, due to adverse hydrometeorological conditions that affect the safety of operations in the area.https://t.co/JO59ZZ8wil
— Cubadebate (@cubadebatecu) September 24, 2024
Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas, Flamingo and Anclote Rivers, and the Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and Youth Island.
The NHC warns that “the combination of storm surge and tide could raise water levels up to two to four feet above normal” on the southern coasts of Pinar del Río and Isla de la Juventud.
The NHC also notes that Helene will generate “swells that will affect the southern coast of Cuba” and will cause waves that could be dangerous.
“There is a danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coast during the next 36 hours at the indicated locations,” the report said, adding: “Tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within the next 36 hours.”
Thousands of Florida residents have been forced to evacuate as the state braces for Helene, which is on track to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast Thursday night, with the Big Bend region hardest hit.
Helene, who was formed on Tuesdayis forecast to become a Category 3 hurricane by Thursday, with maximum sustained winds of more than 115 mph (185 km/h). The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued hurricane warnings for Florida’s Gulf Coast and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, where storm surges of up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) are possible. The Big Bend area, still recovering from recent hurricanes Debby and Idalia, faces particular risk.
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