As of 11am on Wednesday, Sandy became the season's 10th hurricane.

The storm is barely a category one, with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles an hour, and is bearing down on Jamaica.

There is a tropical storm warning in effect for Cuba and also parts of Florida, with the storm expected to cross over Cuba, before brushing past the US east coast.

While passing over the two islands, the Sandy is expected to weaken, but the water between Cuba and Florida is very warm, which could lead to the storm picking up strength quickly.