Hurricane Ian to hit Florida midweek

Hurricane Ian is set to strengthen today as it churns toward Cuba on a path that will approach the west coast of Florida on Wednesday.

The storm will be the first major hurricane of the season to hit the mainland US, but on its current track it will not pose a threat to offshore oil and gas facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, a region that accounts for about 15pc of US crude output and 5pc of dry-gas production.

Ian was about 90 miles west-southwest of Grand Cayman this morning, moving northwest at 14mph with maximum sustained winds of 75mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Rapid strengthening is expected over the next day or so, and Ian is set to become a major hurricane tonight when it nears western Cuba. A hurricane warning is in effect for Grand Cayman, and the Cuban provinces of Isla de Juventud, Pinar del Rio and Artemisa.

The center of the hurricane is forecast to pass near or west of the Cayman Islands today, and near or over western Cuba tonight and early Tuesday.

It will emerge over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, pass west of the Florida Keys late Tuesday, and approach the west coast of Florida on Wednesday.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Lower Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge to Key West. A storm surge watch is in place for parts of the Florida Keys and Tampa Bay.

US president Joe Biden has already issued an emergency declaration for Florida, ordering federal agencies to help coordinate all disaster relief efforts.

The latest storm comes after Hurricane Fiona battered Nova Scotia over the weekend, causing heavy flooding and leaving thousands of households without power.

By Stephen Cunningham