Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Paula Strengthens to Category 2 Hurricane

   VOA News 12 October 2010
   US  Navy Research Laboratory satellite image shows Hurricane Paula, 12
   Oct 2010

Photo: AFP

   US  Navy Research Laboratory satellite image shows Hurricane Paula, 12
   Oct 2010

   Hurricane  Paula  has  strengthened  as it threatens the Gulf Coast of
   Mexico and parts of Central America, forcing officials to call for the
   evacuation of many coastal areas.
   At  last report (1745 UTC), forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane
   Center  said  Paula's  maximum  sustained winds had increased from 120
   kilometers  to  160  kilometers  an  hour.   Further strengthening is
   expected.
   The  storm  is  about  220  kilometers southeast of the Mexican resort
   island  of  Cozumel,  where  hurricane warnings are in effect.  It is
   expected  to  approach  the  east  coast of the Yucatan Peninsula late
   Tuesday and Wednesday.
   Hurricane  Paula  could  dump  eight  to  15  centimeters of rain over
   western  and  central Cuba, the Yucatan Peninsula and northern Belize,
   with some isolated areas receiving more than 25 centimeters.
   Forecasters  say  the  heavy  rains  could  trigger flash flooding and
   mudslides  in the region, especially in mountainous parts of Nicaragua
   and Honduras.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

.