Hurricane Ian forms as Cuba prepares for impact

Hurricane Ian officially formed as a Category 1 storm early on Monday as Floridians were warned to “be ready” for extreme weather in the coming days.

Ian is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane in the eastern Gulf of Mexico by the middle of this week. Forecasters noted that regardless of Ian’s exact track, there is risk of life-threatening storm surges, hurricane-force winds and heavy rains along the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle.

The powerful system is currently moving towards the Cayman Islands and western Cuba with severe conditions expected.

“Efforts to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned.

Classes were suspended in the Pinar del Rio province of Cuba and evacuations planned. Ian had been upgraded on approach to Grand Cayman and the Cuban provinces of Isla de Juventud, Pinar del Rio and Artemisa.

The US National Hurricane Center said Ian should reach far-western Cuba late Monday or early Tuesday, hitting near the country’s most famed tobacco fields.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis reacted on Monday morning after declaring an emergency throughout his state.

“This is a really, really big hurricane at this point,” he said.

As Florida prepares for the incoming extreme weather, Atlantic Canada is recovering from post-tropical cyclone Fiona which made landfall in Nova Scotia early on Saturday.

At least five deaths were reported in the Caribbean and one death in Canada, authorities said.

The body of a 73-year-old woman was discovered in the water after she went missing in Channel-Port Aux Basques, a town on the southern coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland.

Police said the woman was inside her residence moments before a wave struck the home on Saturday morning, tearing away a portion of the basement.

This is an ongoing news story and is being updated