The storm showed signs of turning into a hurricane and officials warned of major impacts, urging residents to prepare for evacuations.
The NHC also expected hurricane and tropical storm conditions in parts of western Cuba through Tuesday morning [Photo: Reuters]
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned the storm - likely to make landfall there as a major hurricane by Wednesday - could have major impacts along the Gulf of Mexico, telling a news conference that evacuations would take place and residents should prepare. Biden spoke with DeSantis earlier Monday and approved an emergency declaration for the state, promising it would have his full support, a White House spokesman said.
It predicted the highest storm surges north of Tampa Bay, a metropolitan region with about 3.2 million residents, saying that"inundation of between eight to 12 feet above ground level is expected." Major hurricanes are usually a Category 3 and up on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale - storms that the NHC says can cause"devastating" and"catastrophic" damage.Cuban state media said about 8,000 people had left their homes to seek shelter with family or friends in Pinar del Rio, the same province walloped last September by Hurricane Ian, which killed at least two people and left millions without electricity.
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