GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands -- Hurricane Paloma exploded in strength Friday, growing into a hulking Category 3 storm and forcing residents of the Cayman Islands and Cuba to brace for direct hits this weekend.

People rushed to emergency shelters and toward high ground throughout the Cayman Islands, where Paloma's rapid development caught many off guard.

''This storm sneaked up on us,'' said Paul Aiken, a Grand Cayman businessman who was trying to find a high spot to stash his vehicles. ``We thought this was a tropical depression, and then suddenly it is a hurricane heading straight for Grand Cayman.''

Friday night, Paloma -- not expected to harm South Florida -- was a Category 3 hurricane with 115-mph maximum sustained winds centered about 275 miles southwest of Camagüey, Cuba, and 30 miles south of Grand Cayman, which was being battered by tropical storm-force winds. Officials told islanders to prepare for foul weather through Saturday night.

The National Hurricane Center's storm specialists said Paloma likely will remain a major hurricane until later Saturday as it takes aim for Cuba's south-central coast.

Paloma is projected to make landfall late Saturday or early Sunday as a powerful Category 2 storm with about 100 mph winds. The government issued hurricane warnings for the provinces of Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camagüey and Las Tunas, and a tropical storm warning for the province of Granma.

Cuban residents readied themselves for what appears will be the fourth tropical pounding of the season, after Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike caused billions of dollars in damage.

''We know what to do, and everybody is ready,'' said Josefina Palma, who lives in Bayamo in Granma province. ``We have gone through this several times this year and in previous years.''

In Camagüey, where Ike made landfall in September, Abel González said a thick cloud cover had eclipsed the sun on Friday, signaling what's to come. The government activated its effective civil-defense system, and people in eastern and central Cuba were advised to be ready to evacuate. Forecasters estimated an eight- to 12-foot storm surge near where Paloma makes landfall along the southern coast, as well as up to 15 inches of rain inland.

''You can tell that a storm is coming, and people are making preparations for yet another one,'' González said. ``We are all getting ready.''

Forecasters said Paloma's strength may be softened this weekend by strong wind shear, which can tear apart a hurricane.

The question is whether that will happen before Paloma reaches Cuba. Forecasters believe the wind shear may start affecting Paloma late Saturday, bringing it from Category 3 to Category 2 strength on its approach to Cuba.

The storm should be very weak after its pass through Cuba, sending tropical storm conditions to the Bahamas early next week. Paloma is not expected to affect South Florida's weather, except for some possible cloudiness and gusty breezes on Monday and Tuesday.

Paloma is the 16th named storm and eighth hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30. Government scientists in August predicted the season total would be an above-average 14 to 18 named storms and seven to 10 hurricanes, and that's turning out to be an accurate forecast.

Paloma's projected path looks similar to the 2001 path of Hurricane Michelle, the last major November hurricane. It struck southwestern Cuba as a monstrous Category 4 hurricane on Nov. 3, 2001, killing five people, dumping more than two feet of rain and causing almost $2 billion in damage.

Miami Herald staff writer Jacqueline Charles contributed to this report.

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