Though the storm’s center is still away, the tidal waves it is triggering have reached the southern coast of Isle of Youth, as it is moving northwest nearing Cuba as a Category 2 hurricane packing sustained winds of up to 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour), according to regional and local meteorological services.

The Cuban Civil Defense has issued a hurricane alert and has warned over life-threatening storm surge, strong winds, flash floods and likely mudslides in portions of western Cuba.

Ian is forecast to cut through Cuban most western province of Pinar del Rio over the night. Residents are taking all the necessary precautions to stay safe, while the authorities and Civil Defense personnel are evacuating dwellers of low areas and small coastal towns.

The provinces or Artemisa, Mayabeque and Havana, the island’s capital, will, too, be affected though in lesser degree by Ian.

This is the first tropical storm to hit Cuba this hurricane season that expands from June to mid-November.

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