GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) -- The Cayman Islands are getting soaked with rain this morning as a late-season hurricane approaches.
Hurricane Paloma is a Category 1 storm and is expected to hit the chain of tiny Caribbean Islands with 80 mile per hour winds. Forecasters say it's likely to pass over or near Grand Cayman late tonight or early tomorrow and pick up strength before slamming into Cuba. By that point, the National Hurricane Center in Miami says it could be a Category 3 storm.
The Cayman Islands government is urging residents to stay off the streets and there's been a run on stores. They are preparing to evacuate low-lying coastal regions and the airport is to close by mid-morning.
Officials in the Caymans say they don't think it'll be a major event for them, but it could be a different story for Cuba. It's still recovering from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
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