WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologists are closely monitoring Tropical Storm Ian, which formed Friday evening over the central Caribbean Sea.
The latest models continue to push the system into the northern Caribbean Sea during the weekend and then toward Cuba and the west coast of Florida early next week potentially as a Category 3 hurricane.
At this point, everyone in South Florida is under the cone of error for Wednesday.
Tropical Storm #Ian has formed in the Caribbean. Here's the 11pm Friday track. The wind speed probabilities have also increased slightly and most of Florida remains in the error cone. Monitor closely through the weekend. pic.twitter.com/MCiSTOhKQa
— Steve Weagle (@SteveWeagleWPTV) September 24, 2022
According to the 11 p.m. Friday forecast from the National Hurricane Center, Ian currently has winds of 40 mph, moving west, northwest near 12 mph.
"The computer models have shifted a little farther to the west, which is obviously good for us, but it will fluctuate back and forth," WPTV First Alert Chief Weather Meteorologist Steve Weagle said.
RELATED: Here's how you can stay prepared during hurricane season
The latest models show a hurricane could come ashore on the west coast of Florida just north of Fort Myers on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with winds of 115 mph.
"The cone is 200 miles wide, so it could easily shift off to the west or to the east," WPTV First Alert Weather Meteorologist Steve Villanueva said. "If it takes a more southern track, our winds would be considerably stronger. If it takes the northern track, our winds will be weaker."
At 11 p.m. Friday, a hurricane watch was issued for the Cayman Islands and a tropical storm watch was issued for Jamaica.
NHC said hurricane conditions are possible in the Cayman Islands early Monday.
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
Tropical Depression 10
Tropical Depression 10 formed at 11 a.m. Friday off the coast of Africa. The system should be short-lived and is no threat to land, Villanueva said.
Hurricane Fiona
On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will approach Nova Scotia later Friday and then move across Nova Scotia and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Saturday. Hurricane conditions are expected to begin in Canada on Friday night.
The storm will then move across Labrador and over the Labrador Sea on Sunday.
According to the 11 p.m. Friday forecast from the National Hurricane Center, the Fiona has maximum sustained winds near 130 mph and is moving northeast at 35 mph.
Tropical Storm Gaston- Tropical storm conditions in western Azores today and heavy rainfall
- Up to 2-6 inches of rain
- Rainfall may result in landslides and areas of flooding
Tropical Storm Hermine
The eighth tropical storm of the season formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa with heavy rains forecast for the Canary Islands.
