Hurricane watches in effect in Florida, eastern Mexico and Cuba as storm expected to become category 3 over Gulf

Heavy rains lashed the Cayman Islands on Tuesday as forecasters warned that a nearby cluster of thunderstorms could soon become a major hurricane en route to the south-east US.

Hurricane watches were in effect for Florida’s Tampa Bay and from Englewood to Indian Pass, as well as for eastern Mexico from Cabo Catoche to Tulum – and for Cuba’s Pinar del Río province. Hurricane conditions could be possible in parts of Cuba and Mexico early on Wednesday and in parts of Florida late on Wednesday and early on Thursday, according to the US’s National Hurricane Center (NHC).