Megathread: Hurricane Ian Strengthens to Category 4 Storm Before Making Landfall In Florida

Hurricane Ian has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm before making landfall in western Florida. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Hurricane Warning for the region, with sustained winds of 130-156 km/h (80-97 mph) and heavy rainfall expected. Ian has already devastated Cuba, knocking out the country's power grid and causing widespread flooding, and Florida is bracing itself for the worst. The storm is expected to make landfall later today, with the NWS warning of "widespread power outages" and "considerable damage to homes and buildings." Thousands of people have been evacuated from the storm's projected path, with many more hunkering down in preparation for the hurricane's arrival. President Joe Biden has declared a state of emergency in Florida, authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate disaster relief efforts. This is a developing story. --- ##Submissions that may interest you SUBMISSION | DOMAIN<br>--- #^SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF EACH COMMENT THREAD FOR THE NEXT UPDATE<br>***