Heavy rains hit the Cayman Islands as the southeastern United States braces for a major hurricane

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Heavy rains and high waves hit the Cayman Islands Tuesday, while meteorologists warned that a nearby cluster of thunderstorms could soon develop into a major hurricane heading toward the southeastern United States.

Hurricane warnings were in effect for Florida’s Tampa Bay and from Englewood to Indian Pass, as well as for eastern Mexico from Cabo Catoche to Tulum and for Cuba’s Pinar del Rio province. Hurricane conditions were possible in parts of Cuba and Mexico early Wednesday and in parts of Florida late Wednesday and early Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

“Now is the time to start preparing. If you are in an evacuation zone, you should evacuate,” said Lisa Bucci, a hurricane specialist at the center. “Don’t be fooled by what the storm looks like right now. We expect it to intensify rapidly.”

She said people in areas under watch and warnings need to be prepared for power outages and bring enough food and water to last at least three days.

The disturbance is expected to move “over extremely deep and warm waters,” which would favor its intensification.

“Conditions appear to be quite favorable for strengthening over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday,” the center said. “This system will become quite large and powerful before making landfall.”

The disturbance is expected to develop into Tropical Storm Helene on Tuesday and then strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane before approaching the northeastern Gulf Coast. Eight major hurricanes have made landfall in Florida since 2000, said Philip Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University.

Given the expected size, storm surge, winds and rain will be far from the center of the expected storm, especially on the eastern side. The center warned of “the intrusion of strong winds inland across portions of the southeastern United States following landfall.”

Bucci said storm-related rainfall is expected in states such as Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana.

A tropical storm warning was issued for Grand Cayman, eastern Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Tulum, and Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth in Cuba.

Meanwhile, a storm surge warning has been issued for Florida’s Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor and from Indian Pass south to Flamingo. A tropical storm warning has been issued for Dry Tortugas, the Lower Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge, Flamingo south of Englewood and west of Indian Pass to the Walton Bay county line.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Florida, urged the public to take possible evacuations seriously.

“A flood of 3 to 4.5 meters is NOT survivable,” said the social media platform X.

On Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 41 counties.

The disturbance was expected to strengthen into a major hurricane on Thursday as it approached the northeastern Gulf Coast. It was located about 150 miles west of Grand Cayman. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and was moving northwest at 9 mph (15 km/h).

In the Cayman Islands, authorities closed schools and airports as the weather forecast warned of strong winds and rain as well as waves up to three meters high.

“The current conditions pose a significant risk and our safety must be our top priority,” said Ian Yearwood of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.

Meanwhile, many people in Cuba are concerned about the unrest, the effects of which are expected to reach the capital, Havana, which is struggling with severe water shortages and mountains of uncollected waste.

In total, around 600,000 people in Cuba suffer from water shortages, including over 130,000 in Havana alone. Power outages also occur repeatedly.

The disturbance is expected to move through the waters between Cuba and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula late Tuesday and then move north toward the Gulf Coast.

Rainfall of up to 20 cm is expected for western Cuba and the Cayman Islands, with a total of 30 cm in isolated areas. Rainfall of up to 10 cm is expected for the eastern Yucatán Peninsula, with a total of over 15 cm in isolated areas.

Heavy rain is also forecast for the southeastern United States starting Wednesday, which could cause flash floods and river flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center. Rainfall of up to 15 centimeters has been forecast for the region, and in some places even up to 25 centimeters.

A storm surge of up to 15 feet (5 meters) was forecast from the Ochlockonee River in Florida to Chassahowitzka and up to 10 feet (3 meters) from Chassahowitzka to the Anclote River and from Indian Pass to the Ochlockonee River.

Helene would be the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic this year due to record high sea temperaturesSeventeen to 25 named storms were forecast, including four to seven major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

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Associated Press reporter Andrea Rodríguez in Havana contributed to this report.