Tropical Storm Ian "rapidly intensifying," could hit Florida as major hurricane

Tropical Storm Ian is expected to "rapidly strengthen" this weekend and could hit Florida early next week as a major hurricane, according to forecasters. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Tropical Storm Ian was moving across the central Caribbean Sea, and expected to pass southwest of Jamaica by Sunday evening. By early Sunday, it was located 320 miles south-southeast of Grand Cayman, moving west-northwest at 12 mph. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

"Ian is expected to become a hurricane later today or tonight and reach major hurricane strength by late Monday or Monday night before it reaches western Cuba," the NHC said.