Category 3 storm makes landfall in Cuba as Florida braces for impact

Illinois energy provider sends crews to Florida, Georgia ahead of predicted outages

Illinois Commonwealth Edison Energy Company, known as ComEd, is sending hundreds of employees and contractors to Florida and Georgia to help deal with potential outages caused by Hurricane Ian.

On Tuesday, the company said it would send 100 ComEd employees, 150 contractors and support staff, totaling more than 250 workers, to help with the expected restoration efforts.

Crews are expected to depart from locations around the Chicago area around 8 a.m. ET Tuesday.

“After completing safety trainings upon arrival, ComEd teams will help repair damage and restore service as quickly and safely as possible,” the company said.

Ian is expected to strengthen later on Tuesday morning

Hurricane Ian is expected to strengthen later Tuesday morning, officials said.

The center of the storm is expected to move over western Cuba over the next few hours, the National Hurricane Center said.

The hurricane will then emerge over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and is also expected to strengthen during this time, he said. Maximum sustained winds were at 125 mph around 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Ian is then expected to approach the west coast of Florida as a major hurricane, with the storm on track to pass west of the Florida Keys later Tuesday.

Hurricane warning extends along Florida’s west coast to Bonita Beach

A hurricane warning has been extended south along the Florida coast to Bonita Beach, the National Hurricane Center said Tuesday morning.

The hurricane warning was in place for parts of the West Coast from Bonita Beach to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay, early Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, a hurricane watch was in effect from north of the Anclote River to the Suwannee River.

A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected somewhere in an identified area, while a hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible in a given area, according to the NHC.

Follow Ian’s path as major hurricane barrels to Florida

Hurricane Ian is expected to hit the west coast of Florida as early as Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Ian developed into a major Category 3 storm early Tuesday morning as it made landfall in western Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, the NHC said. The storm is expected to remain a major hurricane when it reaches Florida’s west coast, he said.

Follow our live tracker monitoring Ian’s path as he makes his way to Florida.

At least 20 airports affected by Ian

At least 20 airports are expected to be affected by Hurricane Ian’s impending landfall as airlines brace for cancellations and delays.

American Airlines said in a travel alert Monday night at least 20 airports in the western Caribbean and Florida would be affected by the storm. Early Tuesday morning, the number of airports affected remained the same.

The airline said passengers whose plans will be impacted will be able to rebook at no cost.

United Airlines also said it was granting waivers to customers traveling to, from or through affected airports.

Storm clouds over St. Petersburg, Florida

Hurricane Ian was heading towards Cuba

Ian turns into a Category 3 major storm as it makes landfall in Cuba

Hurricane Ian upgraded to a major Category 3 storm after making landfall in Cuba early Tuesday.

The hurricane made landfall just southwest of the town of La Coloma in Cuba’s western Pinar Del Río province around 4:30 a.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Maximum sustained winds were at 125 mph early Tuesday morning, the NHC said. This makes Ian a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

Evacuation orders issued for parts of Florida

Evacuation orders have been issued for parts of Florida, including Hillsborough County, where residents living in Zone A, which includes areas on the shore and along rivers, as well as all mobile homes , were told to start evacuating their homes from Monday afternoon.

Mandatory evacuation orders are also in place for parts of Charlotte County, Levy County, Manatee County, Pasco County, Pinellas County and Sarasota County.

Meanwhile, voluntary evacuation orders are also in place for Hernando County and Collier County, as well as other parts of Manatee County and Hillsborough County.

A complete list evacuation orders is updated online by the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Restaurants closed in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Ian heads for Cuba as the winds pick up

Hurricane Ian headed for Cuba early Tuesday morning, with the storm about 50 miles south of the western town of Pinar del Río around 2 a.m., according to the National Hurricane Center.

Maximum sustained winds had strengthened to 110 mph, with stronger gusts.