Tallahassee, United States of America- The National Hurricane Center has announced that Tropical Storm Ian which currently has sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) is forecasted to strengthen to hurricane status within the next two days.
According to the National Hurricane Center, as it reemerges into the warm waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, it is possible that the storm will have winds of above 111 mph (178 km/h), making it a hurricane.
Governor, Ron DeSantis has since requested Federal emergency assistance in anticipation of the threat and also declared a State of Emergency in 24 counties.
“This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations. We are coordinating with all State and local government partners to track potential impacts of this storm,” said the Governor.
Ian is expected to generate two to four inches of rain in parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, four to eight inches in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, and six to 10 inches in western and central Cuba, forecasters said, adding that heavy rain is expected to begin hitting South Florida on Monday.
If Tropical Storm Ian strengthens to a hurricane it would be the first major hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Hurricane Michael in 2018.
A hurricane watch has been issued for the Cayman Islands, including Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac by the government of the Cayman Islands.
Ian is the ninth named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June through November, had a relatively quiet start, with only three named storms before September 1 and none during August, the first time that had happened since 1997.
In early August, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued an updated forecast for the rest of the season, which still called for an above-normal level of activity. In it, they predicted that the season which runs through November 30 could see 14 to 20 named storms.
The links between hurricanes and climate change have become clearer with each passing year. Data shows that hurricanes have become stronger worldwide during the past four decades. A warming planet can expect stronger hurricanes over time and a higher incidence of the most powerful storms, though the overall number of storms could drop because factors like stronger wind shear could keep weaker storms from forming.
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