Tropical storm warnings are posted along the west coast of Florida as the first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane moves in that direction.
The storm, called Alberto, is currently about 605 kilometers west of Key West, Florida.
The U.S. Weather Service expects Alberto to produce 25 to 50 centimeters of rain over the western half of Cuba. It says the rainfall could cause flash floods and mudslides.
Alberto's maximum sustained winds are nearly 75 kilometers an hour. The weather service says the storm is unlikely to strengthen in the next 24 hours.
The weather service says the 2006 season will be very active, with up to six major hurricanes expected.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
