Hurricane Ian is hurtling towards Florida, with rain and strong winds already hitting the south of the state on Tuesday night. The storm has already passed over Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, meaning it is likely to cause “devastating damage” according to CBS News.
Winds of speeds of 120pmh were already being whipped up with the centre of the storm 180 miles south-southwest of the city of Punta Gorda.
This is where the hurricane is predicted to make landfall in under 24 hours.
There have been serious warnings that Ian will be a dangerous storm, with flooding and strong winds expected.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie warned in a news conference: “I implore, I urge everyone that is in an evacuation zone that has been asked to evacuate – the time is now.
“You must evacuate now. There will be a time when it will not be safe to travel the roads.
“There will come a point in time when local public safety officials will not be able to respond to your cry for help. You may be left to fend for yourself.”
Ian is forecast to make landfall on Wednesday afternoon to evening local time between Sarasota and Port Charlotte.
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“Heed those instructions.”
In Cuba Hurricane Ian caused a blackout across the island.
Engineer Lázaro Guerra, technical director of the Electric Union of Cuba, confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that there was no electricity throughout the country.