Cuba`s Meteorology Institute (INSMET) reports the Isle of Youth, an islet southwest of Havana, experiencing winds of between 37 and 55 miles an hour, with gusts between 62 and 73 mph, with similar winds felt now in western Pinar del Rio.

Data from INSMET show that the south-central region of the country and the southern coast of the Isle of Youth have had strong penetrations by the sea, the latter experiencing waves 16-feet high.

Hurricane Ivan is expected to continue its northwest course, with little change in intensity, over the next 12 to 24 hours, which should bring its eye very close to Cape San Antonio late Monday.

Rains will continue on the Isle of Youth and will become torrential in westernmost Pinar del Rio as the hurricane gets closer. The city of Havana and Havana province will also experience intense rain this afternoon and overnight.

Wind velocity will gradually increase in the west until gaining hurricane force when Ivan reaches the Yucatan Channel.

INSMET continues to report sea penetration on the southern coast of the Isle of Youth and low-lying coastal zones of Pinar del Rio and Havana can expect such flooding beginning Monday afternoon.

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