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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
World
David Kent

Hurricane Ian hits Florida as storm causes major damage - but it should avoid Ireland

Hurricane Ian has struck the eastern coast of the United States, causing millions of people to flee amid major damage to towns and cities.

The tropical storm has already knocked out power across the entirety of Cuba, and it turned into a huge Category 4 hurricane overnight on Tuesday.

Winds of up to 250 kph have been recorded in parts, according to the National Hurricane Centre in the US.

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At least 2.5 million Floridians are currently under some type of evacuation order as Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified into a major hurricane on Tuesday (2022 Anadolu Agency via Getty)

It has already caused concerns for two of Tampa's sports teams - the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - to consider moving their respective games this weekend.

Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis told reporters: "This is going to be a nasty nasty day, two days," with two and a half million people being evacuated across the state.

Two people have been killed in Cuba so far by the storm.

Will Hurricane Ian hit Ireland?

As it stands, the storm is not set to hit Ireland.

By the time Hurricane Ian has left the US, it will have weakened considerably - though we might feel some small after-effects after it makes it's way across the Atlantic.

Met Éireann publish 10-day forecasts using Atlantic charts and models, which currently suggest that Tuesday will be the wettest day we've had for a while.

View of Hurricane Ian as the eye wall comes ashore at Fort Meyers Florida on the west coast of Florida (Zuma Press/PA Images)

The weekly forecast was published on Tuesday afternoon and reads: "An unsettled period with low pressure systems tracking near Ireland in a southwesterly airflow bringing spells of wet weather.

"Higher pressure will trend to the south of Ireland. Rainfall amounts this week will be above average, with highest amounts in the west and northwest. Rainfall warnings are possible. Temperatures will trend a degree or two higher than the seasonal norm."

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