Tropical storm 'Ian' forms in eastern Caribbean Sea, may hit Cuba, Florida soon

On Friday, a tropical storm called 'Ian' formed in the eastern Caribbean Sea. As per reports, weather forecasts suggest that the storm would strengthen to become a Category-3 hurricane and might reach Florida by next week. If it does, Ian will be the first hurricane to hit the mainland US in 2022.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the tropical hurricane in the Caribbean is expected to hit Cuba before reaching Florida on Wednesday. The center further added that though the magnitude of the storm cannot be determined at the moment, residents of areas expected to be affected in Florida and Cuba need to take precautionary measures to mitigate the possible impact.

AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said in a statement that the likely scenario is that the hurricane would hit the Gulf of Mexico, which could affect the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Panhandle areas. As of Friday, Ian was about 430 miles from the southeast coast of Kingston, moving at a speed of 15 mph.


According to reports, Ian was sustaining a wind speed of 35 mph on Friday and would become a hurricane when it reaches 74 mph, which is expected to happen as it hits the Florida Peninsula. Heavy rainfalls and strong winds are expected to accompany Ian, as indicated by the hurricane center. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tweeted that the track of the tropical storm was uncertain, though a likely impact was expected in the state.

DeSantis further said that the Floridians need to be vigilant and prepared for impact. Moreover, considering the looming threat, the state government declared a pre-landfall emergency on Friday in 24 counties across the state. As per a CNN report, the forecasts on Saturday morning indicated that the impact areas continue to vary. Expected areas of impact include Fort Myers and Big Bend region, as per European and American models.

Ian is the ninth named tropical storm in the Atlantic region in the current year.
FAQ

1. Where was the Ian storm last spotted?
   Ian was last spotted 270 miles from the southeast coast of Kingston, Jamaica.
2. When will the tropical storm hit Florida?
   Ian is expected to hit Florida on Wednesday. It will reach Cuba earlier in the week.