Forecasters said Tropical Storm Ian will strengthen as it moves through the Caribbean on Saturday and could reach Florida as a major hurricane early next week. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Saturday morning that Tropical Storm Ian was about 300 miles south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, moving to the west-southwest at 15 mph. It had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
"Early next week, Ian is forecast to move near or over western Cuba as a tropical storm and then as a major hurricane, with the potential for significant impacts from storm surges, tornadoes and heavy rainfall. It is forecast to reach the Florida peninsula. At or near US strength," is a National Hurricane Center.
Here are the 5 am EDT Saturday Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Ian. Get the latest storm information at https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/QaHIoxDjtT
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 24, 2022
On Friday, DeSantis signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for 24 Florida counties that could be in the storm's path. The order puts the Florida National Guard on standby. DeSantis requested a federal "Pre-Landslide Emergency Declaration."
"This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to be prepared. We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to monitor the potential impact of this storm," DeSantis said in a statement.
NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket may attempt to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center due to the storm, the agency said on Friday.
On Saturday, a Hurricane Watch was in effect for the Cayman Islands and a tropical storm formed for Jamaica.
"On the forecast track, the center of Ian is forecast to cross the central Caribbean Sea today and pass southwest of Jamaica on Sunday evening and early Monday, near or over the Cayman Islands. Ian will then approach western Cuba. On Monday," the National Hurricane Center said.
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