Hurricane Ian as it approached Cuba and Florida on Monday.
Category 3 hurricane Ian made landfall early Tuesday in La Coloma, in the western province of Pinar del Río in Cuba.
Minutes earlier, the Cuban Meteorological Institute (Insmet) announced that the storm had been gaining intensity until it became a category 3 hurricane (out of 5) on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with winds sustained from185km/h.
Pinar del Río is the westernmost province of the island. The Cuban government established the cyclone alert phase for six western provinces, includedendo the capital, Havana.
Cubans had to line up this Monday in search of food to stock up before Ian’s arrival on the island.
Authorities ordered the evacuation to shelters of tens of thousands of people.
Forecasts indicate that Ian will continue to gain strength as it heads across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, where mandatory evacuations have already begun.
The Insmet estimates that the impact in Cuba will last around four hours, “until leaving a point on the north coast between Puerto Esperanza (Viñales) and Santa Lucía (Minas de Matahambre).”
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said “potentially deadly storm surge, hurricane-force winds, flash flooding and possible landslides are expected in parts of western Cuba from tonight and until Tuesday.
Cuban fishermen guard their boats before Ian’s arrival this Monday night.
“Is it possible a devastating damage if Ian’s core moves around western Cuba,” he added.
Cuba might see up to 250 millimeters of rain, according to forecasts.
The Caribbean is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Fiona, which hit the region last week.
Road to Florida
When Ian became a category 1 hurricane on Monday morning, authorities in the state of Florida (USA) urged residents to “make their preparations” to face the storm.
It is forecast that, following passing through Cuba, it will continue its route through the northwestern Caribbean and hit the west coast of florida on wednesdaywhere it is located Tampaa city that has not faced a major hurricane in a century.
The exact path of the hurricane is uncertain, but Governor Ron DeSantis warned of “wide impacts throughout the state.”
Along the Tampa Bay waterfront, grocery store shelves emptied quickly and there were long lines at gas stations.
“It’s never too early to prepare”Tampa Mayor Jane Castor tweeted on Sunday.
Local officials from your municipality and others like Miami and Fort Lauderdale are distributing free sandbags to help residents protect their homes from flooding.
Forecasters said flash flooding is possible by Tuesday across the Florida panhandle and the Florida Keys.
Floridians filling sandbags ahead of the hurricane’s arrival.
The governor declared a state of emergency for all of Florida over the weekend and activated 5,000 National Guard troops to help with relief efforts.
DeSantis said Ian poses a risk of “dangerous storm surge, heavy rain, flash flooding, high winds, dangerous seas, and isolated tornado activity”.
“This is a really big hurricane right now,” he told a news conference on Monday, urging residents to “remain calm” but “do whatever it takes to be prepared.”
The White House will also provide its support in the event of a disaster.
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