"Pay attention to the development of the coming weather system," because "the unusual storm comes with a cold front," said Jose Rubiera, head of storm predictions at Cuba's Meteorological Institute.

"What we will have is a weather system alongside a cold front, which will be the first cold of the winter season," he said on local television.

He predicted "heavy rains, intense at times, but not long-lasting, along with winds of up to 90 kilometers (55 miles) per hour in the western part of the country," overnight Sunday and lasting until mid-day Monday.

Likewise, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, said that Gamma was 345 kilometers (215 miles) east-southeast of Belize City and 70 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of Limon Honduras, moving northward, with an increase in forward speed during the next 24 hours.

The storm has maximum sustained winds near 75 kilometers (45 miles) per hour with higher gusts.

"Upper-level winds now appear unfavorable for strengthening," the US center said at 2100 GMT, "And little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours."

"Some gusts to tropical storm-force may occur over the higher elevations of northern Honduras to the south of the center.

"Tropical storm Gamma is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 15 to 25 centimeters (six to 10 inches) across western and central Cuba with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches (38 centimeters) possible," the US center said.

The Atlantic tropical season, which ends on November 30, has been the most active ever recorded, with 27 named storms, 13 of which have been hurricanes.

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