Florida Hurricane

The storm was forecast to roll off Cuban and then strengthen over warm, Gulf of Mexico waters to a Category 4 storm. Updates.

Significant, prolonged river flooding is expected across central to northern Florida.] [Limited flash and river flooding is expected over portions of the Southeast into the mid-Atlantic mid-to-late week.] [WHAT IS STORM SURGE?: ] [It's often a hurricane's deadliest and most destructive threat](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/18/storm-surge-definition-hurricane-threat/9797051002/) [Florida National Guard called into duty] [Florida Gov. [strengthen to a Category 4 storm over warm, Gulf of Mexico waters](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/09/26/hurricane-ian-rapid-intensification/8119513001/). [Category 4 storms can cause 'catastrophic' damage] [If the storm struck as a Category 4 hurricane, it could cause "catastrophic" damage, and power outages could last weeks or months, according to the National Weather Service's description of storms that strong. [Hurricane categories, explained: ] [Breaking down the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind speed scale](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/19/hurricane-wind-speed-saffir-simpson-scale/9807231002/) [What is 'rapid intensification'? [Hurricane Ian tracker] [Ian will slow down over the Gulf, growing wider and stronger, “which will have the potential to produce significant wind and storm surge impacts along the west coast of Florida,” the hurricane center said.] [Ian was forecast to emerge over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico](https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/09/26/hurricane-tracker-where-is-ian-headed/8118340001/) on Tuesday and approach the west coast of Florida on Wednesday and Wednesday night. The storm's winds were forecast to approach 140 mph by late Tuesday.] ] ["Rapid intensification" is a process in which a storm undergoes accelerated growth: The phenomenon is typically defined to be a tropical cyclone (whether a tropical storm or hurricane) intensifying by at least 35 mph within 24 hours. "Just go straight across the state to Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach." The Gulf is going to be very angry as this comes in." "Because of the size of the storm, it's kicking up a lot of surge. Along with the howling winds, parts of Central Florida could see 12-16 inches of rain with 2 feet possible in isolated areas. Hundreds of thousands of Floridians faced mandatory evacuation orders as the National Hurricane Center expanded the hurricane warning along more than 150 miles of the state's Gulf Coast.

Warnings that catastrophic storm surges could cause flooding in Tampa region as hurricane makes landfall in Cuba.

[vulnerable to flooding](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/health/environment/tampa-bay-climate-change/) from a storm surge as the bay is shallow. [Grocery stores](https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2022/09/27/tampa-bay-preps-shortages-ahead-hurricane-ian/) were selling out of bottled water. [at capacity](https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2022/09/27/tuesday-live-updates-tampa-bay-final-hours-prep-hurricane-ian-nears/) in one Tampa county. In that case, the area could see a 10-ft storm surge, bringing major flooding to the area, according to the As seen throughout Florida, despite the risks posed by rising sea levels and storms made more powerful by climate change, luxury condominiums have “This is a really, really big hurricane at this point.” In 2015, a firm in Boston that analyzes catastrophe models named Tampa as the city [most prone](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2015/09/15/381499.htm) to storm surge flooding. [ press conference](https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/hurricane/2022/09/27/hurricane-ian-path-evacuations-storm-surge-winds-news-florida-information/8122901001/). Distributions for sandbags, which are used to alleviate flooding damage, were Last year, Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana as a category 4 hurricane and cost an “This is a life-threatening situation. [estimated](https://www.nola.com/news/hurricane/article_716be8ee-83cf-11ec-a605-a7749397ceec.html#:~:text=Ida%2C%202021%2C%20%2475%20billion&text=hit%20the%20state.-,Its%20wind%20and%20storm%20surge%20caused%20catastrophic%20damage%20along%20the,southeast%20Louisiana%20and%20south%20Mississippi.) $75bn in damages.

From Fort Myers to Sarasota and Tampa, here's the Hurricane Ian forecast for cities in Florida. More U.S. cities like Atlanta, Raleigh and Charleston will ...

The National Hurricane Center is forecasting 2 to 4 inches of rain and a 10 to 20 percent chance of tropical storm conditions. While winds below tropical storm force are currently forecast, the National Weather Service is warning that the forecast could change to feature sustained winds at tropical storm strength. A [flood watch](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=FLZ045&warncounty=FLC095&firewxzone=FLZ045&local_place1=Orlando%20FL&product1=Flood+Watch&lat=28.5047&lon=-81.3742) has also been posted for Orlando, which is expected to start seeing tropical storm conditions by Wednesday morning. The National Hurricane Center is warning residents to be prepared for wind speeds up to that of a Category 2 hurricane, as there remains considerable uncertainty in Ian’s eventual track, size and strength as it passes near Jacksonville. [storm surge warning](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=FLZ165&warncounty=FLC071&firewxzone=FLZ165&local_place1=2%20Miles%20N%20Saint%20James%20City%20FL&product1=Storm+Surge+Warning&lat=26.5343&lon=-82.0882) and a [hurricane warning](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=FLZ165&warncounty=FLC071&firewxzone=FLZ165&local_place1=2%20Miles%20N%20Saint%20James%20City%20FL&product1=Hurricane+Warning&lat=26.5343&lon=-82.0882), with a [flood watch](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=FLZ265&warncounty=FLC071&firewxzone=FLZ265&local_place1=Villas%20FL&product1=Flood+Watch&lat=26.5611&lon=-81.8639) also in effect until Thursday night. Regardless, Sarasota is expected to take a severe punch from the storm, with Regardless of how windy it gets, the city is already seeing impacts from Ian; a [flood watch](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=FLZ072&warncounty=FLC011&firewxzone=FLZ072&local_place1=Miami%20Gardens%20FL&product1=Flood+Watch&lat=25.9794&lon=-80.2028) and [tornado watch](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=FLZ072&warncounty=FLC011&firewxzone=FLZ072&local_place1=Miami%20Gardens%20FL&product1=Tornado+Watch&lat=25.9794&lon=-80.2028) are posted. Tornadoes will also be possible as the storm tracks closer to the city. Tropical storm conditions will begin Wednesday morning, with hurricane-force winds expected to begin Wednesday afternoon and not abating until Thursday afternoon. Freshwater flooding is also likely, with 4 to 8 inches of rainfall likely, with locally higher amounts possible. A modest storm surge of up to one foot is also possible. [tropical storm watch](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=FLZ173&warncounty=FLC086&firewxzone=FLZ173&local_place1=Miami%20FL&product1=Tropical+Storm+Watch&lat=25.77&lon=-80.2) for the possibility of sustained winds climbing to tropical storm force.

Much of the state is at risk of heavy rainfall, and the coast could see devastating storm surge, particularly around Tampa Bay.

Residents were encouraged to [check their evacuation zones](https://www.floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone/) and [identify the closest shelters](https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/shelters/) before the storm arrives. [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com) under a Creative Commons license. Residents across Florida need to prepare for the risk of heavy rain, flash flooding, storm surge, isolated tornadoes and strong winds. If the storm is large enough, it could even generate storm surge on the eastern side of the Florida Peninsula, like Irma did along portions of northeast Florida. [see some storm surge and coastal flooding](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/102341.shtml?peakSurge#contents), especially as the storm nears land. The part of the storm east of the center of circulation generally has more cloud cover and more rain. The Tampa area forecast as of Tuesday, was for up to 10 feet of storm surge that could be pushed into Tampa Bay. But as Florida saw with Andrew, wind damage can be catastrophic in these smaller systems. Up to 3 feet of storm surge was expected for the Florida Keys and South Florida, but these amounts could also be higher, especially as Ian strengthens. Several areas, including around Tampa Bay, were under [evacuation orders](https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2022/09/26/hillsborough-orders-300000-evacuate/). Since land surrounds the Gulf of Mexico, there is nowhere for this water to go but inland. But the scale doesn’t take water risk into account, and flooding and storm surge are both major risks from Ian.

Millions of Floridians are under evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Ian's expected arrival. The storm has gotten bigger and forecasters believe it will ...

The storm is so big, it's bringing a lot of rain to most of the state. There's thousands of National Guardsmen activated, and the state has 27,000 utility workers on standby, ready to get to work restoring power as soon as they can. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. And DeSantis, who is seen as a likely Republican presidential candidate, has been a harsh critic of President Biden on a number of issues. But what that will also do is likely bring it to cut it across the state of Florida. ALLEN: Well, Governor DeSantis and his administration say they're ready, you know, but the federal government has an important role to play in any recovery. In Tampa Bay, the storm surge threat has actually been reduced a bit as the storm's track has changed, but it's still expected to get 4 to 7 feet of surge, which is likely to cause some flooding in this area. And besides a storm surge, there's concerns that extreme rain may cause a lot of inland flooding, and so that's something to be watching for. The National Hurricane Center expects it to make landfall tomorrow south of Tampa Bay in Sarasota County. ALLEN: Well, Ian is a huge storm, just hundreds of miles wide, and so most of Florida will get impacts from the storm. Two and a half million people in Florida are now being told to evacuate their homes before the arrival of Hurricane Ian. If Ian maintains the strength, the high winds are going to cause major damage in that area between Sarasota and Fort Myers.

Ian is forecast to make landfall in southwest Florida as a major hurricane on Wednesday night, with winds up to 130 miles per hour and the biggest storm surge — ...

“The way it’s positioned, it’s difficult for a hurricane to take a track that’s going to blow wind into the bay continuously.” “It’s not going to be possible to rebuild in the same way,” she said. “People say, ‘Are you sure you want to go back?’” she said of living on such a vulnerable patch of land. The airport is close to Tampa Bay, so storm surge and flooding are a top concern, said John Tiliacos, the executive vice president of airport operations. Ian is forecast to make landfall in southwest Florida as a major hurricane on Wednesday night, with winds up to 130 miles per hour and the biggest storm surge — up to 12 feet — predicted roughly between Sarasota and Naples. Home to more than three million people, with about 700 miles of shoreline, the region is vulnerable even to minor storms because the Gulf of Mexico is shallow, said David S. [a report from Karen Clark and Co.](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2015/09/15/381499.htm), a catastrophe modeling firm based in Boston, called Tampa Bay the most vulnerable place in the United States for hurricane storm surge, pegging possible losses from such flooding at $175 billion. Officials said the power company was working to restore power, with the hope that some parts of the grid would be working by Wednesday morning. 25 with winds of about 120 miles per hour, a velocity that would have made it a Category 3 storm. The last one hit more than a century ago, in 1921, inundating much of Tampa and surrounding towns. No matter where the storm hits, millions of people will be affected. — With so many near-misses over the decades, it had become common to believe Florida’s Tampa Bay region was somehow protected from hurricanes.

With Hurricane Ian approaching Florida, National Guard troops in the state stand ready to be called into service, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig.

"We obviously take these threats seriously, but, at this stage, we've not seen anything that would cause us to adjust our own nuclear posture at this time," Ryder said. "Florida has pre-positioned Guard soldiers, airmen and equipment at bases and armories around the state in preparation for deploying them to areas impacted by the storm," Ryder said. But, as of yet, the Defense Department hasn't seen any change in Russia's nuclear posture, Ryder said. "[It's] nothing that I would consider significant," he said. The bottom line is neither of those commands will miss a beat regardless of whether the storm hits in the Tampa area or not." "There are very comprehensive contingency plans that are put together to address these types of eventualities to ensure that there's 24/7 connectivity and command and control capability.