Hurricane Ian is expected to soon hit the state.

Hurricane Ian strengthens to Category 4 as it nears Florida, US officials issue mandatory evacuation orders for some areas see where to affect.

Hurricane Ian is expected to soon hit the state. strengthened into a Category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds now at 140 mph, and is expected to cause life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flooding in the Florida Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday.

Hurricanes are one of nature’s most powerful storms. They produce strong winds, storm surge flooding, and heavy rainfall that can lead to inland flooding, tornadoes, and rip currents. Hurricane Ian strengthened into a major Category 3 storm it made landfall in Cuba early Tuesday. The hurricane made landfall just southwest of the town of La Coloma in the Pinar del Río province in western Cuba at around 4:30 a.m. ET, according the National Hurricane Center.