A man crosses the street near the Capitol building during thunderstorms in Havana October 14, 2010. The rains of tropical storm Paula began affecting Cuba since early Thursday morning, mainly in Pinar del Rio province in the west of the island state, according to the National Institute Meteorology (INSMET). [Xinhua/Reuters]

The rains of tropical storm Paula began affecting Cuba since early Thursday morning, mainly in Pinar del Rio province in the west of the island state, according to the National Institute Meteorology (INSMET).

At 6:00 a.m. local time (1000 GMT), Paula was centered some 50 km north-northeast of Cabo San Antonio and was moving northeastward at 7 km per hour, with the maximum sustained winds at 120 km per hour.

According to INSMET's forecast, in coming hours Paula will change its course to the east-northeast and east, so it will pass Cuba's northwestern coast of Pinar del Rio.

The Civil Defense Department placed some municipalities of Pinar del Rio, Havana and Matanzas and Juventud Island on alert on Thursday.

Paula is the 16th tropical storm of the current hurricane season.