By Chantal Da Silva -
NBC News
Tropical Storm Ian strengthened into a hurricane Monday as Florida braces for possible flooding this week.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced that the storm is expected to rapidly strengthen during the day and become a major hurricane as it approaches western Cuba, where it is expected to "produce significant wind and storm surge impacts.”
By early Monday, the storm's maximum sustained winds had strengthened to nearly 75 miles per hour (120 kilometers per hour), with higher gusts, according to the hurricane center.
[They forecast that between Tuesday and Wednesday a major hurricane will hit Florida. Before it will hit western Cuba]
A hurricane watch has been issued along Florida's west coast from north of Englewood to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay as the storm heads toward the state, according to the NHC.
The center of Ian is expected to pass near or west of the Cayman Islands on Monday, and near or over western Cuba later Monday night and early Tuesday, the NHC said.
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"Ian will then emerge over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, and pass west of the Florida Keys late Tuesday, and approach the west coast of Florida on Wednesday," it said.
Previously, the NHC had warned of the possibility of "considerable impacts from flooding" later this week in west-central Florida.
Meanwhile, additional flash and urban flooding, as well as river flooding across the Florida panhandle and the Southeast "cannot be ruled out" by the end of this week.
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“Regardless of Ian’s exact track and intensity, there is a risk of dangerous storm surges, gale-force winds and heavy rains along Florida’s west coast and the Florida Panhandle by the middle of this week, and state residents should make sure they have their hurricane plan in place,” he said.
In photos taken on Sunday, residents of Tampa, Florida, could be seen filling sandbags to help prevent flooding ahead of the storm.
In Kissimmee, an hour northeast of Tampa, a long line of shoppers could be seen waiting outside a store in a rush to stock up on supplies before Ian's arrival.
Several people could be seen removing several cases of bottled water from the store.
Victoria Colson, 31, of Tampa, loads sandbags into her truck along with other residents who waited about two hours at the Himes Avenue Complex to take their 10 free bags, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP
“Storm surge and hurricane-force winds are also expected to affect portions of western Cuba starting Monday, with Ian expected to reach or approach major hurricane strength as it approaches western Cuba.
Cuban authorities suspended classes in Pinar del Río province and announced that evacuations would begin Monday in preparation for the storm.
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Cuban state media outlet Granma reported that authorities plan to start evacuating people from vulnerable areas early Monday in the far-western province.
"Efforts to protect life and property must be rushed to completion," the NHC warned.
