Western Cuba under alert as tropical storm Ian nears

Cuba remains on alert Saturday as tropical storm Ian threatens to bring heavy rain and gusty winds to the western part of the country.

Ian will make landfall in Cuba early on Tuesday after battering Jamaica and Cayman Islands, according to the country's Institute of Meteorology (Insmet).

Moving westward across the central Caribbean, Ian is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before hitting Cuba, Insmet said.

Still, weather conditions in Cuba's western provinces will start deteriorating on Monday as the storm makes its way toward the Florida Keys.

The Cuban authorities have instructed local governments in the provinces of Havana, Mayabeque, Artemisa, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth special municipality to adopt preventive measures.

Ian is the ninth named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.