HAVANA — A tropical depression that quickly developed in the Caribbean headed over Cuba early Wednesday threatening to strengthen into a tropical storm as it headed toward southeastern Florida.
Cuba expected heavy rains and high winds overnight.
Early Wednesday, the storm's center was about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Marathon, Fla., moving north-northeast at 14 mph (22 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Maximum sustained winds were 35 mph (55 kph), but the depression was forecast to strengthen some and become a tropical storm. It was expected to be near or over southeastern Florida by Wednesday evening.
Cuba's chief meteorologist, Jose Rubiera, said the weather system was large but disorganized and weak. He said the heaviest rains were expected to hit east of the storm's center in an area from Matanzas province to Las Tunas in the eastern part of the island.
Rubiera said the storm was already dumping rain on the island's southern coast Tuesday night, and predicted the rainfall would cause more problems in some mountainous regions and low-lying areas than the winds associated with the storm.
"Don't be afraid," he said during the evening newscast on state television, pointing to a model showing dark moisture associated with the storm moving over the heart of the island. "This means little in practical life."
He went on to forecast that top wind speeds would rise to no more than 50 mph (80 kph). "Those winds will not cause any damage, except possibly to sensitive crops or weak structures," he said.
An official bulletin issued by the communist government warned citizens in areas facing heavy rains to be especially vigilant, keeping a close eye on the storm's trajectory.