HAVANA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cuba remained on alert on Wednesday as tropical storm Fred threatened to bring heavy rains.

This satellite image provided by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows a Tropical Storm Fred in the Caribbean as it passes south of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic at 8am EST, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Photo: AP)

Officials have instructed communities to take precautions.

Fred is expected to hit eastern Cuba early Thursday, after battering the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Weather conditions in Cuba's central and western provinces will worsen on Friday as the storm makes its way toward the Florida Keys, according to the country's Institute of Meteorology.

After forming in the Caribbean on Tuesday, Fred became the sixth named storm of this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.