Hurricane Ian could become a Category 4 storm as it heads toward Florida, forecasters said Tuesday.
The hurricane made landfall in Cuba around 4: 30 Tuesday am, just southwest of La Coloma, in the western province of Pinar del Río, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
After passing through Cuba, Hurricane Ian caused dozens of landslides in various parts of the island, in addition to falling trees; one of the most alarming reports of collapse was reported in Havana, right in the Los Sitios area, however, no injured person has been reported.
Hurricane Ian advances to Florida with a category 4 threat
Forecasters expect the storm to continue to intensify as it moves north toward the west coast of Florida, where a hurricane warning has been issued from Chokoloskee to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay and the Dry Tortugas.
This general movement with a reduction in forward speed is forecast to remain through tonight and the day of Wednesday, when it is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Tampa Bay.
According to the Miami-based NHC, the center of Ian is expected to pass west of the Keys on the forecast track. of Florida well into the morning, and approaches the west coast of Florida within the hurricane warning area on Wednesday.
“Ian is expected to approach the west coast of Florida as an extremely dangerous large hurricane,” the observatory said.
Hurricane force winds extend outward to 40 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds toward outside until 80 miles.
In addition, the water could reach up to 12 feet above sea level in an area of beaches and keys near Sarasota, on the west coast of Florida, and smaller increases in a wide swath of the west coast of Florida.
Several counties along Florida’s west coast issued evacuation orders. It is not yet clear where exactly Ian will make landfall, but models suggest it could reach the Sarasota area first.
Ian is expected to bring from 11 a 18 inches of rain to central and northeast Florida, and 6 to 8 inches to the Keys and south Florida through Thursday.
Massive blackout in Cuba after Hurricane Ian
On the other hand, a massive blackout on the island of Cuba was recorded on Tuesday afternoon, according to official media, who reported a collapse of the National Electroenergetic System ( SEN).
The technical director of the Electric Union of Cuba, Lázaro Guerra, confirmed late in the day that there was no service throughout the country, according to the local media 14and a half.
“The system was working in a complex situation in the western area with the passage of Hurricane Ian”, he pointed out.
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“We had an important cargo from the western part without service, including Havana, which is a very important cargo, and in that condition there were relatively high power transfers through the eastern zone,” he added. 2895094
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Dozens of landslides reported in Cuba after Hurricane Ian, while Florida prepares for its arrival