At 10am Hurricane Paloma was located 75 miles south-southwest of Grand Cayman. The hurricane was moving north at seven miles per hour with maximum sustained winds near 85 miles per hour.
The eye of the storm was forecast to cross over the eastern end of Grand Cayman.
Weather conditions will continue to deteriorate with Grand Cayman being the first to be affected by tropical storm force winds. A gradual increase to Category 1 hurricane force winds will occur by late Friday afternoon.
Paloma could become a Category 3 hurricane by early Saturday morning as it crosses the Cayman Islands. Winds are expected to be easterly at first, backing to the north and north-west by Friday evening.
As the eye of the storm passes, winds will become calm for about half an hour to an hour, but stronger winds will quickly return from the west to north-west.
In addition to an expected storm surge of four to six feet on the south, west and north coasts of Grand Cayman, serious beach erosion is expected to occur on the south and west coasts.
For the Sister Islands, tropical storm force winds are forecast around 7pm Friday, gradually increasing to a peak around 9am Saturday. The hurricane is expected to pass within 47 miles north of the Sister Islands.
Storm surge of one to three feet is expected.
Widespread flooding is expected with Paloma, and forecasters believe it is possible that some eight to ten inches of rainfall could occur through Sunday afternoon.
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