Storm Paula Miami Florida

Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Paula was moving along the north coast of western Cuba on Thursday, bringing heavy rain and high winds to the island nation despite being downgraded from hurricane status, forecasters said.
As of 11 a.m., the center of Paula was about 110 miles (180 kilometers) west-southwest of the Cuban capital, Havana, the Miami, Florida-based National Hurricane Center said. It was moving east-northeast at about 6 mph (9 kph), but was expected to turn east later Thursday.
"On this track, Paula will continue to hug the north coast of western Cuba or move inland over Cuba today," forecasters said. "Tropical storm-force winds should be spreading across western Cuba today, primarily along the north coast. Winds could begin to increase over the lower and middle Florida Keys late today."
The storm's maximum sustained winds were 70 mph (110 kph), just below hurricane status. Paula remained a small storm, with tropical storm-force winds extending 45 miles (75 kilometers) from its center.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for Cuba's westernmost provinces, Pinar del Rio and la Habana, or Havana, and for the city of Havana, the Hurricane Center said.
A tropical storm watch also was in effect for the Florida Keys, from Craig Key westward, including the Dry Tortugas.
Emergency management officials in the Keys said Wednesday they were keeping an eye on the progress of Paula and expected some gusty winds and rain, but no protective actions had been initiated. Forecasters predict the center of Paula will remain south of the Keys.
Paula is likely to dump an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain over portions of western and central Cuba over the next two days, the National Hurricane Center said. Isolated total maximum amounts could be 10 inches in some areas. Heavy rain could trigger flash floods and mudslides, forecasters said. The Florida Keys could see about an inch of rain.
In addition, a storm surge is forecast to raise water levels by 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along the coast of western Cuba, accompanied by "large and destructive waves," the Hurricane Center said.
The storm is forecast to continue weakening and could become a tropical depression Friday, forecasters said.