Residents of South Florida have been warned not to travel as a “life-threatening” storm moves across the state.
The storm was about 145 miles east-northeast of Fort Pierce, moving at a speed of about 20 mph, on Saturday night.
It is forecast to bring rain of up to 10 inches (25 cm) to South Florida, including the Florida Keys, and has already caused three deaths and property damage in Cuba.
The city of Miami tweeted: “This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation.
“It is not recommended to travel in these conditions.
“It’s better to wait, turn around, not drown.”
The National Hurricane Center said the storm, known as Agatha in the Pacific Ocean, will be called Alex in the Atlantic Ocean basin if it is designated a tropical storm.
Maximum sustained winds are currently near 45 mph, and the storm is expected to strengthen through Monday as it moves out into the Atlantic.
A storm is classified as a tropical storm if its winds are between 39 and 72 mph.
