MIAMI ( Associated Press) — Tropical Storm Alex, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, was moving toward Bermuda on Monday after killing three in Cuba and causing flooding in parts of Florida.
Alex strengthened over the Atlantic after becoming a tropical storm early Sunday over the ocean after hitting Florida on Saturday. There it left flooded streets and stranded drivers in some cities.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds were 100 kilometers (65 miles) per hour early Monday after losing some strength, according to the US National Hurricane Center. Its center was about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northwest of Bermuda and it was moving fast east-northeast at 28 mph (44 km/h). It was expected to hold its course until dissipating on Tuesday.
Forecasters estimated it would pass Monday just north of Bermuda. The island activated a tropical storm warning, with forecasts of 2.5 to 5 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) of rain between Sunday night and Monday.
Homeland Security Minister Michael Weeks said emergency services were monitoring the storm.
In Cuba, Alex caused the death of three people, damaged dozens of homes in Havana and left some areas without electricity, authorities reported.
Parts of South Florida experienced flooding due to heavy rain and wind on Saturday. Authorities in Miami warned drivers about the state of the roads, as many cars were stranded by flooding.
Alex originated in part from the remnants of Hurricane Agatha, which made landfall on the Pacific coast of southern Mexico last week, leaving at least nine dead and five missing as it passed through the country.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on Tuesday. It’s an unusually early start to storm season, but not unprecedented in Florida.
