Ike weakens to Category 1 hurricane over Cuba

MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike weakened to a Category 1 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity over Cuba on Monday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Ike had top sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km per hour) but could strengthen again as it moved over water toward western Cuba and again when it emerges over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday night, the forecasters said.

(Writing by Jane Sutton, Editing by Michael Christie)