Caribbean and Central American countries were bracing Tuesday as Tropical Storm Sandy whipped closer, threatening to reach hurricane strength and lash the region with heavy rains and strong winds.

Cuba was closely monitoring the storm, expected to hit the east- central part of the island with by late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to a report Tuesday from Cuba's National Meteorology Institute (INSMET).

A late-season storm, Sandy took shape last weekend over warm Caribbean waters, then continued to strengthen Tuesday, the INSMET said.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (CNH) issued a report at 11 a.m. GMT Tuesday saying the storm was located 480 kilometers southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph).

Sandy was expected to move across Jamaica Wednesday, where a hurricane warning was in effect and the storm was already drenching parts of the island Tuesday, and eastern Cuba.

In nearby Haiti, where a tropical storm warning was in effect, authorities declared a medium-level orange alert, calling on residents to be mindful.

A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected within 24 to 36 hours.

Even though Haiti was not in the storm's trajectory, the country's National Meteorological Center (CNM) said strong rains and thunderstorms could still affect parts of the island, including the departments of South, Southeast, Nippes and Grand Anse, throughout Wednesday morning.

Haiti's civil Protection Department warned of possible flooding, landslides, collapsed buildings and storms in the affected areas.

Last August, Tropical Storm Isaac battered Haiti, leading to at least 24 deaths, leaving more than 8,000 families homeless, and causing 10 billion dollars in agricultural losses.

In Costa Rica, the National Disaster Prevention Commission (CNE) Tuesday called for a preventive green alert for the Pacific and central regions, where Sandy was already causing some rain.

Nicaragua's Municipal Committee for Disasters (Comupred) convened Tuesday in the Northern Caribbean to set up a permanent storm watch.

Marvin Sanchez, the Interior Ministry's delegate in the region, said municipal authorities were monitoring the storm's advance, in case of heavy rains.

The Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (Ineter) launched a navigation alert as early as Monday night for the departments of the Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) and Southern Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS), due to storm surges raising water levels and strong winds.

Sanchez said the town of Bilwi, in RAAN, was particularly vulnerable to hurricanes, flooding and other extreme weather phenomena, but on Tuesday the weather over Bilwi and the Caribbean Sea remained calm, though afternoon rains were a possibility, added Sanchez.

The country's Oceanography and Sea Science Research Center ( CIMAR) warned of possible high waves of up to three meters.

The 2012 hurricane season has so far seen 18 tropical storms and nine hurricanes. Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and ends November 30. Endi

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