Florida prepares for hurricane as tropical storm Ian grows over Caribbean

Cayman Islands and Jamaica brace while Florida governor declares emergency, with storm headed to state by midweek

Florida residents on Saturday were bracing for a heavy tropical storm system that weather experts warn could become a major hurricane.

Ian - upgraded to a hurricane from a tropical storm Sunday - was poised to intensify steadily after forming on Friday over the southern Caribbean. The storm could cross over into parts of Cuba before heading to Florida by the middle of next week, according to forecasts.