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Hurricane Ian could strengthen to a Category 4 storm as it targets Florida, forecasters say.
The hurricane made landfall in Cuba about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday 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.
Forecasters expect the storm to continue to intensify as it makes its way north toward the west coast of Florida, where a hurricane warning has been issued from Chokoloskee to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay, and Dry Tortugas.
A number of counties along Florida’s west coast issued evacuation orders. It is not yet clear where exactly Ian will make landfall, but Gov. Ron DeSantis said late Tuesday the forecast track appeared to show the storm making landfall at Charlotte and Lee counties, south of Tampa.
Ian is expected to bring 12 to 18 inches of rain to central and northeast Florida, and 6 to 8 inches to the Keys and south Florida through Thursday.
Hurricane Ian moving steadily toward Florida's west coast
Hurricane Ian was moving closer to Florida's west coast early Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
In its latest update at 2 a.m., the center said Ian was moving northeast at about 10 mph, and is expected to slow Wednesday before turning to the north on Thursday.
The Category 3 storm was about 95 miles southwest of Naples early Wednesday.
The hurricane is expected to move onshore later Wednesday, the hurricane center said.
The center of the storm is expected to pass over central Florida on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, and emerge over the western Atlantic by late Thursday, the hurricane center said.
Tampa, at risk for major flooding, was in midst of major infrastructure upgrades years from completion
Tampa has been undergoing major infrastructure upgrades to protect the vulnerable city from flooding, but as Hurricane Ian barrels toward Florida’s west coast, the project is still years from completion.
The city is in the early phases of a roughly $39 million project to improve drainage and reduce flooding in the Seminole Heights neighborhood. Construction is only about 30% done, said Sean Sullivan, executive director of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
The three-year project to build a major stormwater conveyance system began late last year. It was on schedule before Ian threatened to undo its progress this week with forecasted wind speeds topping 130 mph, prolonged storm surges of up to 15 feet expected in some areas, heavy rainfall and possible tornadoes.
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Officials warn of tornadoes in Florida
Hurricane Ian may be unleashing tornadoes on southern Florida as the state prepares for a direct hit from the storm, officials said Tuesday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters late Tuesday that two twisters had been seen on radar in Palm Beach County, on the state’s southeast coast. There were also reports of possible tornadoes in nearby Hollywood, he said.
Kevin Guthrie, the state’s emergency management director, warned that tropical tornadoes will “occur very quickly and they will happen overnight tonight. They will occur during heavy rain. You will not be able to see them coming.”
If you get a weather alert indicating a tornado could be nearby, he said, stay in an interior room away from windows and protect your body and head from falling debris.
Cuban cigar factory owner calls Hurricane Ian 'apocalyptic'
Images from Cuba showed parts of a cigar factory destroyed by Hurricane Ian — a scene of devastation the factory’s owner described as “apocalyptic.”
Hirochi Robaina, the owner of Finca Robaina, posted nearly two dozen pictures on his Facebook page Tuesday showing piles of corrugated roofing, the remains of greenhouses and wood-frame buildings that appeared to have been demolished.
“It was apocalyptic,” he said. “A real disaster.”
The factory is in Pinar del Río province, where the storm made landfall early Tuesday as a Category 3 storm.
Authorities cut power to the entire province of 850,000 people, and more than 1 million were without electricity across the island, Reuters reported.
Hurricane Ian expected to slow overnight
By late Tuesday, Hurricane Ian was about 110 miles from Naples, Florida, and had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It was moving northeast at 10 mph but was expected to slow overnight, the center said in its 11 p.m. update.
The center of the storm was predicted to pass west of the Florida Keys, an area already being lashed by winds, in the coming hours.
Amazon temporarily closes some Florida warehouses
Amazon is temporarily closing warehouses in parts of Florida as Hurricane Ian churns toward the state.
The company shuttered sites Tuesday near Tampa and Orlando, according to notices sent to employees and reviewed by CNBC. Amazon expects the facilities to remain closed until Friday, the notices state.
“We will continue to monitor the weather and will provide updates on when the building will reopen,” according to a notice that was sent to workers at a facility in the Tampa suburb of Temple Terrace.
Amazon confirmed that it’s closing some sites as a safety precaution ahead of the storm.
“We’re closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Ian and making adjustments to our operations in order to keep our employees and those delivering for us safe,” Richard Rocha, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement. “We’re in regular contact with our employees and delivery partners to ensure everyone is aware of any site closures or unsafe conditions and will continue to make adjustments as needed.”
Florida Keys are getting lashed by tropical storm winds
Hurricane Ian was expected to pass west of the Florida Keys on Tuesday night before it heads to the state's west coast Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
In an update Tuesday evening, the center said the Category 3 storm was expected to continue strengthening.
Tropical storm conditions were occurring in the Keys, where sustained tropical storm-force winds were recorded at Key West International Airport and Key West Naval Air Station, according to the center.
A 52 mph gust was recorded at Florida Keys Marathon International Airport, and a data buoy center near Sombrero Key reported sustained wind of 43 mph, the center said.
At 8 p.m. ET the storm was about 180 miles southwest of Punta Gorda, Florida, and 20 miles southwest of the Dry Tortugas. Ian had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was moving at 10 mph.
All of Cuba without power after storm
Hours after Ian made landfall in Cuba, the entire island was without power because of infrastructure damage, the country’s electricity provider said.
Crews were working to restore power, which the agency should begin to return overnight and into Wednesday.
Navy fleet stationed in Jacksonville preparing for hurricane
The Navy’s 4th Fleet, stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, is completing preparations as Hurricane Ian bears down on the state.
Ships began departing Tuesday from the fleet’s headquarters at Naval Station Mayport, and aircraft were also leaving, the fleet said in a statement.
Four ships and multiple rotary and fixed-wing aircraft were expected to leave the area before the storm.
Crews were working to heavy weather moor the six ships that will not be departing, and aircraft that will stay will be kept in hangars rated to withstand hurricane-force winds, the fleet said.
Nonessential active-duty service members, civilian employees, drilling reservists and others were allowed to evacuate from Charlotte, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, Rear Adm. Wes McCall of Navy Region Southeast said in the statement.
All bases remained open, the statement said.