Hurricane Ian Intensifies Into Category 3 Storm On Approach To Cuba And Florida

Topline

Hurricane Ian intensified into a Category 3 storm on Tuesday as it tracked towards Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), where it is expected to unload strong winds, heavy rains and dangerous storm surges and gather strength heading towards Florida, where it could make landfall as a potent Category 4 hurricane.

Key Facts

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 115 mph and is “expected to make landfall over western Cuba soon,” the center said in an update at 2:30 a.m. Eastern time.

Ian is expected to bring storm surges that could raise water levels as much as 14 feet along Cuba’s coast and unleash life-threatening winds and rains that could trigger mudslides and flash flooding, the NHC said.

Ian is expected to strengthen further as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida, forecasters said, where it could make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane as early as Wednesday.

Ian is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surges along much of Florida’s west coast, the NHC said, with the highest risk for those in the Fort Myers to Tampa Bay region.

Heavy rainfall will increase in Florida Keys and south Florida on Tuesday and will spread to central and northern Florida later in the week, where it may cause flooding, the NHC warned.

Key Background

Ian marks the first significant threat to the U.S. mainland this hurricane season and Florida has braced for emergency. Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm’s anticipated arrival and urged all residents to prepare, warning of potential flooding, power outages and evacuations across the state. While Ian’s precise trajectory is not clear, it looks as if Tampa and St. Petersburg could be facing their first direct hit from a major storm in a century. Authorities in Cuba have also been preparing for Ian’s arrival and have evacuated thousands of people in anticipation. The storm follows on the heels of Hurricane Fiona, which slammed into parts of Canada over the weekend and wiped out power to almost all of Puerto Rico.

Further Reading

Hurricane Ian: Here’s What To Expect As Storm Nears Cuba And Florida (Forbes)

A ‘Nightmare’ for Forecasters: Here’s Why Hurricanes Are Getting Stronger, Faster (NYT)