Paloma lost its punch as it stalled over Cuba on Sunday and was downgraded to a tropical depression after coming ashore as powerful hurricane that battered the island still recovering from two earlier storms, Reuters reported.
Paloma left a trail of destruction through eastern Cuba, but not the widespread devastation of hurricanes Gustav and Ike that caused $8 billion in damage when they struck in August and September.
In it latest advisory, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Paloma's winds had dropped to 35 miles per hour (55 kph). Its centre was located 15 miles (25 km) south-southwest of the eastern central city of Camaguey and moving just 1 mph (2 kph) to the north, the centre said.
The storm hit the southern coast on Saturday with 120 mph winds (195 kph) that knocked over power and phone lines, toppled trees, damaged homes and felled a communications tower.
In Santa Cruz del Sur, where Paloma made landfall, a 13-foot (4-metre) storm surge pushed seawater nearly a mile (1.5 km) inland, damaging hundreds of homes. Rainfall of up to 15 inches (40 cm) was reported in some areas, causing local flooding.
Paloma weakened quickly as it crept inland and was downgraded throughout the day on Sunday before its downgrade to tropical depression.
Much earlier in the day, the Cuban weather service said only remnants of Paloma remained and stopped issuing advisories.