With the storm losing steam by the hour, Cuban officials said they were optimistic it would not bring a repeat of the devastation wrought by three monster storms that hit in 2008.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Paula had maximum sustained winds of 90 km per hour and its core was about 40km east of Havana, on a course that would take it near the coastal resort area of Varadero.

The storm was moving east at about 22kph, and forecasters projected it to continue moving along Cuba's northern coast. Tropical storm force winds extended about 110km from the center, mostly north and east of the center.

A heavy rain poured down on the capital as dusk fell, and the sea, which had been as flat as a plate, quickly turned violent and frothy. Power was knocked out — or switched off — in most of the city, a normal precaution when winds are high. Waves crashed against the Malecon, and some streets were inundated with a foot or two of water.

AP