Cuba And Florida on alert as Tropical Storm Ian Strengthens into a Hurricane

As a potential hurricane named Ian was moving near the state of Florida late Sunday, tropical storm and storm surge watches were issued for a portion of the coastline.

At 11 p.m. ET, Ian was a tropical storm in the Caribbean Sea with top sustained winds of 65 mph, but the National Hurricane Center said, “it continues to strengthen” and is expected to intensify into a hurricane on Monday.

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and the Department of Homeland Security have been given permission to coordinate disaster relief efforts and offer aid to safeguard lives and property after President Joe Biden also declared an emergency. Due to the storm, the president canceled a trip to Florida that was scheduled for September 27.

It was forecast that the storm will develop into a hurricane early on Monday and a major hurricane, or a Category 3 storm or stronger, on Tuesday.

According to the forecast service, it might come close to Florida’s southwest and western shores on Tuesday and Wednesday.

As Ian was expected to intensify before hitting the western portion of the island on its approach to Florida, authorities in Cuba canceled classes in the province of Pinar del Rio and announced that they would start evacuations on Monday.

“We’re going to continue keeping an eye on this storm’s path. DeSantis cautioned that “even if you’re not necessarily right in the path of the storm, there’s going to be pretty broad ramifications throughout the state, so it’s extremely essential to highlight the degree of uncertainty that still exists” at a news conference on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Ian nears hurricane strength

According to the National Hurricane Center, Ian’s maximum sustained winds increased to 70 mph around 2 am ET, up from 45 mph Sunday afternoon, and it was located about 355 miles southeast of the western point of Cuba. When a storm’s top sustained winds hit 74 mph, it is deemed to be a hurricane.

Osterberg continued, “Unlike past storms that have passed through—Wilma, Charley, specifically—they came rushing across the state. “That won’t happen with this one. We will be subjected to these winds for a day and a half or two days, even if they are barely tropical storm force. Not a short period of time. You won’t just experience this south wind for a few hours; you’ll experience it for a few days when the water pushes up Bayshore.”

But for people in Florida, there is still time to get ready, Cangialosi added. “It’s a hard thing to say remain tuned, but that’s the proper message right now. It’s still time to purchase your supplies, however, I’m not telling you to hang your shutters or anything like that just yet.

In Local Media in Florida where inhabitants moved to stock up on supplies before the hurricane, local media have reported a consumer rush on water, generators, and other supplies.