Storm surges flooded neighborhoods and wind blew off roofs as Hurricane Ike tore through eastern Cuba Monday, while forecasters feared the storm would strengthen as the eye of the hurricane skirted off land and touched warm waters.

Ike remained a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds. Up to 15 inches of rain fell in the past two days in some eastern provinces, as storm surges flooded coastal areas, meteorologist José Rubiera said. Tropical storm winds are expected by Monday afternoon in central Cuba as the storm's outer bands cross almost the entire length of the island.

"The center of the storm will leave southern Ciego de Avila hitting water in the Gulf of Santa María, which is 87 to 89 degrees. This is strong fuel for a storm," Rubiera said on Cuban state TV. "Right now this storm is a bad Category 2 - that is to say on the lower end. If the eye stays there at sea, it will intensify. We could see it organize itself better or intensify."

Models showed the storm bypassing major northern cities and heading straight for western provinces that were already hit last week by Hurricane Gustav.

"The further west it goes, the worse it would be," said Rubiera.