Radar at Punta del Este, on the extreme south of the islet, reported the fierce winds and waves, although precipitation was not significant.

This area of western Cuban is experiencing its second hurricane in a month (Charley arrived exactly one month ago), although Ivan is of greater intensity, with winds of 162 mph.

Some 20,190 people were evacuated from the Isle of Youth before the hurricane, which caused the deaths of more than 60 people and multi-million dollar losses in its passage through the Caribbean this weekend.

Ivan, a category 5 hurricane, continues west-northwest at the extreme western end of Cuba at an unhurried 9 miles an hour.

It is expected that the center of the dangerous hurricane will cross the Yucatan Channel this afternoon, very close to Cape San Antonio at the extreme west of Pinar del Rio Province, bringing hurricane winds, torrential rain and coastal flooding.

Hurricane Charley hit Havana provinces on August 13 leaving four dead and more than a billion dollars in damage.

[url=http://www.cubaxp.com/modules/xp-weather/index.php]Cuba Weather Forecasts[/url]