Paloma has grown to a dangerous major hurricane with 135 mph top winds as it lashes the Cayman Islands.
Winds that strong mean that Paloma is now a Category 4 storm.
The center of the storm is expected to pass near the Cayman Islands Friday night or early Saturday, then move onto the central coast of Cuba. At 7 p.m. EST, the center of Paloma was about 30 miles south of Grand Cayman and moving northeast at 6 mph.
The Cayman Islands government urged residents to stay off the streets, and a hurricane warning is in effect. A hurricane warning is also in effect for several Cuban provinces.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
