Hurricane Ian hits Cuba and expected to intensify before reaching Florida

Hurricane Ian has torn into western Cuba with nothing to stop it from intensifying into a catastrophic category 4 hurricane before its expected landfall in Florida on Wednesday.

Tampa and St Petersburg in Florida could get their first direct hit by a major hurricane since 1921.

After passing over Cuba, Ian was forecast to strengthen even more over warm Gulf of Mexico waters, with winds reaching 140mph before making landfall again. Tropical storm-force winds were expected in Florida late on Tuesday, reaching hurricane force on Wednesday.

Forecasters said the surge of ocean water could reach 10ft (3 metres) if it peaks at high tide and rainfall could total 16in (41cm) with as much as 24in in isolated areas. Coastal communities could be inundated.

Floridians lined up for hours in Tampa to collect bags of sand and cleared store shelves of bottled water. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a statewide emergency and warned that Ian could lash large areas of the state, knocking out power and interrupting fuel supplies.

Damaging winds and flooding was expected across the entire peninsula as Ian moves north, reaching into Georgia, South Carolina and other parts of the south-eastern US on Friday and Sunday, the NHC said.