Hurricane Ian 2022 path update: Ian strengthens to a Category 3 as it hits Cuba

Hurricane Ian became a powerful Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds as it made landfall on the western tip of Cuba early Tuesday morning.

The National Hurricane Center said Ian’s eye moved onshore just southwest of the town of La Coloma in Cuba’s Pinar Del Rio Province around 3:30 a.m. CDT Tuesday.

As of 7 a.m. CDT Ian was continuing to batter Cuba with high winds and dangerous storm surge, according to the hurricane center.

Ian could rapidly intensify even more today as it moves into the very warm Gulf of Mexico and passes west of the Florida Keys. Tropical storm conditions will be possible in the Keys starting later today, forecasters said.

Next in Ian’s path is the Florida peninsula. Ian could make landfall there on Wednesday into Thursday with up to 10 feet of storm surge, destructive winds and flooding rain.

The hurricane center again adjusted Ian’s forecast path slightly to the south and east on Tuesday and noted that there was still a lot of uncertainty about its track in about two to three days from now, when it will be in the vicinity of Florida.

Hurricane warnings were extended southward along Florida’s west coast Tuesday morning in response to the track adjustment.

Ian is expected to be a larger and slower storm as it nears Florida, which could only heighten the destructiveness of storm surge, winds and rain.

As of 7 a.m. CDT Tuesday, the center of Hurricane Ian was located about 10 miles north-northeast of Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, or 130 miles south-southwest of the Dry Tortugas, and was moving north at 12 mph.

Ian had winds of 125 mph, making it a powerful Category 3 hurricane. More strengthening is expected later today as Ian moves into the southern Gulf of Mexico. Category 4 winds begin at 130 mph.

The hurricane center said Ian could strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane with peak winds of up to 140 mph in about 24 hours. Then wind shear is expected to increase and Ian will run into some drier air, which could sap some of its strength.

However, it is still expected to be a powerful Category 3 hurricane when it approaches Florida’s west coast.

Storm surge is great concern. Five to 10 feet of surge will be possible along parts of Florida’s west coast, particularly the Tampa area, which is especially vulnerable to surge.

“There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along much of the Florida west coast where a storm surge warning has been issued, with the highest risk from Fort Myers to the Tampa Bay region,” the hurricane center said. “Residents in these areas should listen to advice given by local officials.”

Cuba could also get 9 to 14 feet of storm surge, the hurricane center said.

Here is a look at the storm surge expected along the Florida coast:

Parts of west Florida could get 5 to even 10 feet of storm surge from Hurricane Ian on Wednesday into Thursday.

Tropical storm conditions will be possible in the Keys later today, the hurricane center said.

Forecasters said hurricane conditions are expected along the west coast of Florida on Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions possibly beginning by tonight.

A few tornadoes will be possible in South Florida today, and a tornado watch will be in effect until 4 p.m. CDT:

Here are all the watches and warnings on Tuesday:

* A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Isla de Juventud, Pinar del Rio and Artemisa, in Florida from Bonita Beach to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay and the Dry Tortugas.

* A storm surge warning is in effect for Florida from the Anclote River southward to Flamingo and Tampa Bay.

* A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of La Habana, Mayabeque and Matanzas, the Lower Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge westward to Key West, Flamingo to Bonita Beach, the Suwannee River to the Anclote River, the Volusia/Brevard County Line south to Jupiter Inlet and Lake Okeechobee.

* A storm surge watch is in effect for the Florida Keys from the Card Sound Bridge westward to Key West, the Dry Tortugas, Florida Bay, Florida’s Aucilla River to the Anclote River, Altamaha Sound to the Flagler/Volusia County Line and the Saint Johns River.

* A hurricane watch is in effect from north of Florida’s Anclote River to the Suwannee River and from Bonita Beach to Englewood.

* A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge, Lake Okeechobee, from north of the Suwannee River to Indian Pass and from Jupiter Inlet to Altamaha Sound, and on the east coast from Deerfield Beach northward to Jupiter Inlet.

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