The first significant threat for the U.S. this Hurricane season is expected to be Tropical Storm Ian, which is expected to become a major Hurricane as it moves from the Caribbean Sea into the Gulf of Mexico.

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There is a tropical storm in the central Caribbean Sea.

NOAA

Ian was located in the central Caribbean on Saturday with a wind speed of 45 mph.

The storm is expected to strengthen into a Category 3 storm by early Monday morning as it moves near the Cayman Islands and is expected to make a direct hit on Cuba.

It's expected to become a potentially devastating Category 3 Hurricane with 115 mph over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday before making landfall in Florida.

In the southern and western parts of the Florida Peninsula, the state of emergency has been issued by the governor.

"Ian is forecast to move near or over western Cuba as a strengthening Hurricane and then approach the Florida peninsula as a major Hurricane with the potential for significant impacts from storm surge, Hurricane-force winds, and heavy rains," the National Hurricane Center said.

Key Background

Ian is one of three active tropical storms in the Atlantic basin that pose no immediate threats to land. More than 400,000 people were without power in Nova Scotia on Saturday after Hurricane Fiona knocked out power in Canada. More than 780,000 people are without power in Puerto Rico because of a storm thousands of miles away. Between July 3 and the start of September, there were no named storms in the Atlantic basin, which was the first time that had happened since 1941.

Tangent

President Joe Biden authorized 100% of federal funding for Puerto Rico's response to Hurricane Maria.

Surprising Fact

The state of Florida has not had a major storm since Hurricane Michael hit the Panhandle in October of last year. Only four storms of such intensity have ever hit the United States.

Canada is bracing for a historic hit from a recent storm.

More than one million people in Puerto Rico are still without power.