Hurricane Ian update

Almost all of Florida airports have either shut their doors, or cancelled most flights, in anticipation of Hurricane Ian's arrival.

The expectation is that Universal could reopen on Friday, but said it is monitoring the weather and safety of its workers before announcing plans. “Given the latest projections for Hurricane Ian, Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. Lauderdale, Ft. The other central Orlando-area theme park and resort, Universal Orlando, will also close on Sept. - United Airlines is allowing rebooking for tickets on flights from Ft. - Southwest Airlines has issued its own flight waiver for travel through Sept. - Close to 25% of flights canceled at Ft. 1 for travel on or before Oct. The airport said it “will provide an update when the airport terminal plans to reopen” and is also telling passengers to contact their airlines. canceled to and from Orlando International Airport (MCO), which decided to stop operations after speaking with its airline partners and the National Weather Service. MCO expects to reopen on Friday after assessing damage to the airport property and facilities. The Tampa Bay area, from Anclote River to the Middle of Longboat Key, could see storm surges reach up to 6 ft.

Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, with winds of up to 155 mph, is approaching Category 5 strength and could make landfall in southwest Florida as one of ...

[tells the Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-ian-live-updates-6302894797cae989ff855030cf332a97). We are more used to the 2s and 3s.” [Here’s How Effective the Original Vaccines Are Against Omicron](https://time.com/6215580/original-vaccines-effectiveness-against-omicron/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20220923) (175 mph), 2018 Hurricane Michael that hit Florida (161 mph), 2005 Hurricane Katrina that made landfall in Louisiana (175 mph), and 1992 Hurricane Andrew, which hit South Florida and then made landfall again in Louisiana (175 mph), [more than 10 counties](https://www.flgov.com/2022/09/27/governor-ron-desantis-issues-updates-on-state-preparedness-for-hurricane-ian-4/) with mandatory evacuation orders, though the governor noted that it is no longer safe to evacuate high-risk areas like Sarasota or Collier County. Some [viral posts even crack jokes](https://twitter.com/KoloneHusky/status/1573658532699901953) about the supply shortage at grocery stores. [Scientists warn that climate change is helping](https://time.com/6217515/climate-intensifying-storms-hurricane-ian/) to turbocharge storms like Ian, and that the warming world pushes storm intensity to grow, resulting in deadlier, more damaging storms. ET on Wednesday, the eye of the hurricane was just off the southwestern Florida coast near Fort Myers, but it’s [projected to move further inland](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/095758.shtml?mltoa34#contents) across the next three days. was Hurricane Michael, which hit the Florida panhandle in 2018, and is labeled as Much of the area hit directly by a Category 4 or 5 storm is likely to be uninhabitable for weeks, if not months. history](https://time.com/6217404/hurricane-ian-costs-florida/), affecting large swaths of Florida and reaching other parts of the Southeast; the storm will spawn “catastrophic wind damage,” flash flooding and torrential rainfall. Most of the storm surge’s peak will be three to six-foot-high water above ground level along the coast, but Englewood, Bonita Beach, Charlotte Harbor, Longboat Key, Chokoloskee and the areas in between will be hit the hardest with seven to 16-foot surges. [Federal weather authorities](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/095758.shtml?key_messages#contents) announced that the storm could be “life threatening” and that everyone in the hurricane zone should promptly follow evacuation orders from local authorities.

Visit the National Weather Service, Peachtree City, Ga. for weather forecasts for other regions of Georgia. Here, you will find Georgia Emergency Management and ...

Ian’s sustained top winds were 125 mph (205 kmh) and as much as 14 feet (4.3 meters) of storm surge was predicted along Cuba’s coast. And those changes will in turn alter the impacts." Governor Brian Kemp visits the State Operations Center at the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) headquarters. Delta Air Lines will not operate at Tampa, Sarasota, Orlando and Fort Myers on Sept. Teams will safely resume flights when conditions allow, in cooperation with local officials. Meyers and Key West closed, as are Disney World theme parks and Sea World in Orlando. If you have travel plans, please contact your airline for the latest updates on your flight. Georgia Department of Transportation: To help ease potential congestion along evacuation routes, beginning Wednesday, September 28 Georgia DOT is halting all projects requiring lane closures along Interstates 16, 75 and 95 south of Atlanta, and all maintenance and utility projects. “We need so many bucket trucks, we need so many linemen, engineers and other teams. As Hurricane Ian moves inland, the power company will use their resources for parts of Georgia that may be affected before offering to assist nearby states like Florida. Wednesday, Sept. Visit the National Weather Service, Peachtree City, Ga.

We get the latest on Hurricane Ian, discuss Florida's rickety property insurance market, hear about a new book on the refugee crisis written by Jacksonville ...

[Beyond Van Gogh](https://vangoghjacksonville.com/)immersive exhibit have a chance to get a pair of free tickets from First Coast Connect. [Elizabeth Sarah](https://elizabethsarahcollections.com/)and visual artist [Philip Bennett Walker](https://philipbennettwalker.com/)have outgrown their current gallery space in Jacksonville Beach. We spoke with River City Pride’s Karrissa Wade, who discussed the festival’s [events](https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/09/27/river-city-pride-expands-to-four-events-starting-friday/). [The River City Pride festival](https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/08/26/jax-river-city-pride-announces-parade-festival-dates/)is scheduled to happen in Riverside this weekend. [Keith Schneider](https://twitter.com/krs_uf) spoke with us to share tips for safe storage of food and water before and during a power outage. Mary's Seafood festival](https://visitstmarys.com/st-marys-seafood-fest-1). For more information and updates, visit River City Pride’s [website](https://jaxrcpride.org/). Their interview Monday gave the students a chance to be the ones to ask all the questions about broadcasting, journalism and news. [Andrew Leon Hanna](https://twitter.com/andrewleonhanna?lang=en) knows a lot about the refugee crisis as it continues unabated worldwide. [intensified](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?start) to an [extremely dangerous](https://news.wjct.org/first-coast/2022-09-27/hurricane-ian-could-hit-first-coast-with-5-foot-storm-surge-15-inches-of-rain-possible) Category 4 storm this morning as it barreled closer to Florida's Gulf Coast. Listeners can download the free Florida Storms [app](https://wjct.org/weather/?station=wjct) to get the latest updates on Ian. As insurance experts are sounding the alarm about Ian and storms to come, the issue is becoming more and more urgent for millions of homeowners across the state.

Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday on Florida's Gulf Coast, leaving more than 1 million Floridians without electricity as the Category 4 storm unloads ...

[Forecasters](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?start#contents) put the storm on a northeasterly path across central Florida and toward the Atlantic, with hurricane warnings in effect for Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral and evacuation orders in place for some low-lying parts of eastern Florida. Petersburg and Fort Myers—have been ordered to [evacuate](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/27/hurricane-ian-evacuation-orders-grow-tampa-st-petersburg-and-fort-myers-areas-targeted/?sh=6e1168c74bb6), while schools, hospitals and two major airports in the Tampa Bay area, as well as the Orlando International Airport, [announced](https://www.fox35orlando.com/weather/some-florida-airports-closing-ahead-of-hurricane-ian) they would temporarily close. [widespread flooding](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/27/in-photos-hurricane-ian-slams-cuba-and-barrels-toward-florida-heres-a-look-at-the-damage/?sh=281739671a4d) and a [total blackout](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/27/cuba-electrical-outage-hurricane-ian-damage/) across the entire island. Hurricane watches [are in place](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/282057.shtml?) for the Atlantic Coast in parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, and tropical storm watches and warnings extend all the way to the southern edge of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Heavy rainfall is expected across the peninsula through Thursday, likely to cause “life-threatening catastrophic flooding,” according to the [NHC](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?start#contents). Some Florida residents who defied evacuation orders and remained in their homes have called 911, but DeSantis says first responders will likely wait until conditions become less dangerous. Ron DeSantis said the state has received “some reports of structural damage” in Lee and Charlotte counties. [‘Rapidly Intensifying’: Hurricane Ian Could Strengthen To Category 5 Storm As It Approaches Florida](https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/09/28/hurricane-ian-25-million-ordered-to-evacuate-and-thousands-without-power-as-florida-braces-for-storm/?sh=65af88b47727) (Forbes) [Near Cat 5 Hurricane Ian with 155 mph winds to strike Florida today, carve way up to Orlando](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/weather/hurricane/os-ne-huricane-ian-florida-wednesday-20220928-mihffhzohfbehpaw2oeb5y3cqe-story.html) (Orlando Sentinel) [7 Reasons Hurricane Ian Is Particularly Dangerous](https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2022/09/28/7-reasons-hurricane-ian-is-particularly-dangerous/?sh=7e2305972e21) (Forbes) [In Photos: Hurricane Ian Slams Cuba And Barrels Toward Florida—Here’s A Look At The Damage](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/27/in-photos-hurricane-ian-slams-cuba-and-barrels-toward-florida-heres-a-look-at-the-damage/?sh=281739671a4d) (Forbes) [advised](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV3FCLopFoc) residents who ignored evacuation orders not to go outside, as the storm brings a 12-18-foot storm surge around Charlotte Harbor, saying it’s “only going to get worse”—the majority of the Gulf Coast, as well as parts of northeast Florida and the Georgia coast are under a storm surge warning. [hit the barrier island](https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1575202655567491072?s=20&t=QD0d3MFwbqbhHsXsToCWTg) of Cayo Costa, the [National Hurricane Center](https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1575224269478719489?s=20&t=DFLZiGMfDYBcl6rAp0QnyA) said. [National Weather Service](https://twitter.com/NWSTampaBay) advising residents who did not evacuate to treat the storm like an approaching tornado and to “move immediately to an interior room or shelter NOW!” [says](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/282057.shtml?) “catastrophic” storm surges, flash flooding and wind are expected across much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, and Florida Gov.

The hurricane made landfall Wednesday afternoon, bringing sustained wind speeds of 140 mph and a risk of "catastrophic" storm surges.

[Forecasters](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?start#contents) put the storm on a northeasterly path across central Florida and toward the Atlantic, with hurricane warnings in effect for Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral and evacuation orders in place for some low-lying parts of eastern Florida. Petersburg and Fort Myers—have been ordered to [evacuate](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/27/hurricane-ian-evacuation-orders-grow-tampa-st-petersburg-and-fort-myers-areas-targeted/?sh=6e1168c74bb6), while schools, hospitals and two major airports in the Tampa Bay area, as well as the Orlando International Airport, [announced](https://www.fox35orlando.com/weather/some-florida-airports-closing-ahead-of-hurricane-ian) they would temporarily close. [widespread flooding](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/27/in-photos-hurricane-ian-slams-cuba-and-barrels-toward-florida-heres-a-look-at-the-damage/?sh=281739671a4d) and a [total blackout](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/27/cuba-electrical-outage-hurricane-ian-damage/) across the entire island. Hurricane watches [are in place](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/282057.shtml?) for the Atlantic Coast in parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, and tropical storm watches and warnings extend all the way to the southern edge of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. [curfew](https://www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc/posts/pfbid0Vphgmf1CDcdRdD8xGfCmmZkVtBPUs8uqSCKLhBZutNWyyysM6TfCNjqK9WvF6SoNl?__cft__[0]=AZWamd4QbAiivRLaJwvRgfkIBGh6VRrPmC4KqVQf0QV_Opd63RTRATlpfknWhe0vMHoLYFeo2l1oD4lqIfvJOO8gJEaiLhVSb_zk-51f2WGxJPe1e0CifXnJSd0e0FniLJZSJTyo1UbfXfsgi7cCfchKm0HsbUQtAJ5h4OBEdcwZcQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R) that started at 6 p.m. Heavy rainfall is expected across the peninsula through Thursday, likely to cause “life-threatening catastrophic flooding,” according to the [NHC](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?start#contents). Some Florida residents who defied evacuation orders and remained in their homes have called 911, but DeSantis says first responders will likely wait until conditions become less dangerous. Ron DeSantis said the state has received “some reports of structural damage” in Lee and Charlotte counties. [‘Rapidly Intensifying’: Hurricane Ian Could Strengthen To Category 5 Storm As It Approaches Florida](https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/09/28/hurricane-ian-25-million-ordered-to-evacuate-and-thousands-without-power-as-florida-braces-for-storm/?sh=65af88b47727) (Forbes) [Near Cat 5 Hurricane Ian with 155 mph winds to strike Florida today, carve way up to Orlando](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/weather/hurricane/os-ne-huricane-ian-florida-wednesday-20220928-mihffhzohfbehpaw2oeb5y3cqe-story.html) (Orlando Sentinel) [7 Reasons Hurricane Ian Is Particularly Dangerous](https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2022/09/28/7-reasons-hurricane-ian-is-particularly-dangerous/?sh=7e2305972e21) (Forbes) [In Photos: Hurricane Ian Slams Cuba And Barrels Toward Florida—Here’s A Look At The Damage](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/27/in-photos-hurricane-ian-slams-cuba-and-barrels-toward-florida-heres-a-look-at-the-damage/?sh=281739671a4d) (Forbes) [advised](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV3FCLopFoc) residents who ignored evacuation orders not to go outside, as the storm brings a 12-18-foot storm surge around Charlotte Harbor, saying it’s “only going to get worse”—the majority of the Gulf Coast, as well as parts of northeast Florida and the Georgia coast are under a storm surge warning. [hit the barrier island](https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1575202655567491072?s=20&t=QD0d3MFwbqbhHsXsToCWTg) of Cayo Costa, the [National Hurricane Center](https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1575224269478719489?s=20&t=DFLZiGMfDYBcl6rAp0QnyA) said. [says](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/282057.shtml?) “catastrophic” storm surges, flash flooding and [extreme wind](https://twitter.com/NWSTampaBay/status/1575235739914145792) are expected across much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, and Florida Gov.

Hurricane Ian is forecast to make landfall Wednesday afternoon on the west coast of Florida as an 'extremely dangerous' storm. Live updates.

It will slam much of the state with [life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flooding](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2022/09/27/hurricane-ian-impacts-could-felt-weeks-heres-why/10443192002/), the National Hurricane Center said. [WHAT IS STORM SURGE?: ] [Explaining a hurricane's deadliest and most destructive threat](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/18/storm-surge-definition-hurricane-threat/9797051002/) [FEMA readies search and rescue teams] [Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Deanne Criswell says her biggest concern with Hurricane Ian is the expected storm surge and inland flooding from heavy rains as the storm crawls across Florida over the next two days.] [“It's bringing with it a lot of rain and it's going to move slowly, which means people that are in the path, they are going to experience the impacts for a long period of time,” Criswell told CNN on Wednesday morning. Glyn and Christine Williams of London were told to leave their hotel near the beach when evacuations were ordered. Another possible tornado also was reported in Broward County.] [WHAT IS THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SPEED SCALE?] [Breaking down the hurricane category scale](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/19/hurricane-wind-speed-saffir-simpson-scale/9807231002/) [Heavy rains, flooding to spread into Georgia, South Carolina] [Heavy rainfall will spread across the Florida peninsula through Thursday. Disney World theme parks and Sea World in Orlando all closed ahead of the storm. later this week and this weekend.] ["Widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flooding is expected across portions of central Florida with considerable flooding in southern Florida, northern Florida, southeastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina," the service said in an advisory.] [Georgia Gov. A couple from England on vacation in Tampa found themselves faced with riding out the storm at a shelter. [Too late to flee for some] [DeSantis warned the highest risk was along the west coast counties of Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Sarasota. "If you are in any of those counties, it's no longer possible to safely evacuate," DeSantis said. [poweroutage.us](https://poweroutage.us/). "It is going to have major, major impacts in terms of wind, in terms of rain, in terms of flooding," Gov. [AccuWeather](https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/live-news/ian-strengthens-to-category-4-hurricane-as-it-nears-florida/1252749) forecasters predicted landfall just northwest of Fort Myers, between Don Pedro Island and Boca Grande, around 4 p.m.

Clemson University Emergency Management continues to monitor Hurricane Ian and is participating in daily emergency management calls with state officials.

If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in the nearest ditch and cover your head. [South Carolina Emergency Management Division webpage](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__scemd.org_&d=DwMGaQ&c=Ngd-ta5yRYsqeUsEDgxhcqsYYY1Xs5ogLxWPA_2Wlc4&r=y_q90ZwseaNXr0dfDIq9bi1E6dqgXnQHYglCMZSKi1o&m=iW-9B77UrPAZ9_k-9WkvVpZ2CrQWjFCTbV0sDKoY5y0&s=BtPWKPdjmW1EqDhslL_ZDm4gJaVknODZiVWXoRtZedU&e=). Everyone in the state should be personally prepared for the effects of Ian, such as property damage, power outages and flooding in places known to do so. If there is no basement, go to an interior room on the lowest level. Do not attempt to outdrive a tornado. A list of county closings is available on the Below is a message from South Carolina EMD on potential impact across the state along with details and tips on personal emergency plans. - If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately in a house or small building. [scemd.org](https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/scemd.org__;!!PTd7Sdtyuw!U0Y68x_W7vGee4lqqKKGab1mm9ZQz_RmWoNFU97DIQkpKlwSm9AuAsL2b5q6Ev0TtqLVLXccoqi9KkXifJt3$)or downloading the SC Emergency Manager mobile app: [http://onelink.to/dn92rx](https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/onelink.to/dn92rx__;!!PTd7Sdtyuw!U0Y68x_W7vGee4lqqKKGab1mm9ZQz_RmWoNFU97DIQkpKlwSm9AuAsL2b5q6Ev0TtqLVLXccoqi9Ki6JGg9y$). [your pets](https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/hurricane.sc/pets__;!!PTd7Sdtyuw!U0Y68x_W7vGee4lqqKKGab1mm9ZQz_RmWoNFU97DIQkpKlwSm9AuAsL2b5q6Ev0TtqLVLXccoqi9Krm4Ts03$)in your emergency kit. [Parking Services Facebook page](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.facebook.com_CUParkingandTransportation&d=DwMGaQ&c=Ngd-ta5yRYsqeUsEDgxhcqsYYY1Xs5ogLxWPA_2Wlc4&r=y_q90ZwseaNXr0dfDIq9bi1E6dqgXnQHYglCMZSKi1o&m=KW9YHdFacR0-L6ThYWCBjS8th5JEP6WbISqcFSyU-94&s=NKt-3eKOrtLJ9GpXJe-TE36-Kj3_YEjbs7LSA6lnv5w&e=)for updates and check the [Clemson Area Transit (CAT) Facebook page](https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.facebook.com_CATbus-2D53191218369_&d=DwMGaQ&c=Ngd-ta5yRYsqeUsEDgxhcqsYYY1Xs5ogLxWPA_2Wlc4&r=y_q90ZwseaNXr0dfDIq9bi1E6dqgXnQHYglCMZSKi1o&m=KW9YHdFacR0-L6ThYWCBjS8th5JEP6WbISqcFSyU-94&s=0q6XCqjOzo2TvdakRtUC0qw1x28zQqTcqKXnXycegyM&e=)for schedule and route information. Some counties in the Lowcountry have already announced anticipated closings for Thursday and Friday.

Storm makes landfall near Cayo Costa along the south-western coast of Florida with winds close to 150mph.

“So that does not mean that we are out of danger with Hurricane Ian. That’s where the majority of the injuries happen,” she warned, citing downed trees, fallen power lines and standing water. You’re going to have a massive amount of power hitting that coastline with really, really strong winds. Have we had big storms that left a lot of water and flooding? “So please, please be aware that we are not out of danger yet. Joe Biden said earlier today that he had spoken with the Republican governor, and promised his “absolute commitment” to provide federal resources. With Hurricane Ian making landfall earlier this afternoon, the numbers are expected to change. As the storm passes through, winds in its eastern and lower half will shove water back toward land — and inland — at a prodigious rate,” NPR explains. We will remain closed Thursday and anticipate reopening on Friday, Sept. That is going to do a lot of damage. “Our destination, including CityWalk, will close on Wednesday, Sept. Have we had storms as strong as this hit Florida?

Live coverage as Hurricane Ian approaches Florida's Gulf Coast after hitting Cuba and knocking out the island's powergrid.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida as a dangerous Category 4 storm, according to the Wednesday, 5 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center ...

Hurricane-force winds are expected to continue to spread inland into Central Florida and along the east-Central Florida coast overnight through early Thursday. [University of Florida campus in Gainesville will be closed](https://news.ufl.edu/2022/09/uf-campus-closure/) Wednesday, Sept. The weather will continue to deteriorate through Thursday, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Jacksonville. Heavy rainfall will spread across the Florida peninsula through Thursday and reach portions of the Southeast U.S. It is expected to move over Central Florida during the next day and emerge into the western Atlantic later Thursday. As a result, tropical storm winds are expected to continue Wednesday night across Northeast and North Central Florida, which includes Alachua County.

Hurricane Ian from NOAA GOES-16 Satellite. Local Closings and Cancelations. NC Zoo – The North Carolina Zoo will be closed to the public on Fri, Sept. 30 and ...

Tropical forecast models are notoriously unreliable more than 24 hours out so there is still considerable uncertainty as to the exact track Ian will take and therefore the expected effects, we here in the Triad can expect. Wind– The earliest reasonable time of arrival of tropical storm force winds, mainly in gusts (should they happen) is during the daylight hours on Friday. - NC Zoo – The North Carolina Zoo will be closed to the public on Fri, Sept.

Hurricane Ian is headed for the gulf coast of Florida after making landfall in Cuba. The hurricane is expected to bring storm surge and heavy rain to the ...

more frequently in recent years](https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/09/29/record-us-hurricane-landfalls-climate/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_9). And last summer alone, [nearly 1 in 3 Americans experienced a weather disaster](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/09/04/climate-disaster-hurricane-ida/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_10). [seven safety tips to help you get ready for hurricanes](https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/05/03/hurricane-safety-prepare-noaa/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_6). Read more about [how climate change is fueling severe weather events](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2020/10/22/climate-curious-disasters-climate-change/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_11). [intensified this fall with conditions prime for storms](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/08/17/hurricane-season-tropical-atlantic/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_1). For the seventh year in a row, hurricane officials expect [an above-average season of hurricane activity](https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/05/24/noaa-atlantic-hurricane-outlook-2022/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_5).

Next 24 hours will be the most dangerous in Tampa, officials warn. More than 1.8 million without power in Florida.

If you’re headed to a shelter, [here’s what to expect.](https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2022/09/26/do-you-plan-stay-shelter-hurricane-ian-heres-what-expect/) More on the comparison [here](https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2022/09/28/hurricane-ian-dwarfs-devastating-hurricane-charley/). [grew into a monster storm](https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2022/09/28/hurricane-ian-strengthens-category-4-will-reach-floridas-west-coast-wednesday/) it drew troubling comparisons to Hurricane Charley, which devastated Charlotte County in 2004. [Hillsborough County](https://hillsborough.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=960017149a5c40d0a43860aad988d2ec) has ordered mandatory evacuation for Zone A, Zone B and mobile homes. The bridge will remain closed until the storm passes and the inclement weather subsides, the Highway Patrol said in a news release. If it had started out (earlier) as a Category 5, they would have been out of there in a second.” After visiting Florida earlier this week, Scott was in Washington, D.C. “The problem you have is people look at the category number and that’s how they think of it,” Scott said in a phone interview. [#Hurricane] [#Ian]has made landfall with max winds of 150 mph - the strongest landfalling hurricane to hit the continental US since Ida (2021) and the strongest hurricane to hit Florida since Michael (2018). As the storm moves slowly across Florida, conditions in Pinellas County are expected to worsen throughout the day, even if the storm remains to the south. According to the update, the center of Hurricane Ian is expected to move across central Florida tonight and Thursday morning. Jack and Kelly Berrenger finished a quick walk with their 8-year-old Bichon Frise Teddy ( Cats Rose and Violet stayed in the room). Petersburg police, firefighters and other city employees will assess the damage from Hurricane Ian Thursday morning “at first daybreak.” Crews Thursday morning will look for fallen trees and downed power lines.

Ian could bring up to 18 feet of storm surge to southwest Florida, which would be catastrophic.

* A storm surge warning is in effect from the Suwannee River southward to Flamingo, Tampa Bay, the Lower Florida Keys from Big Pine Key westward to Key West, the Dry Tortugas, from Flagler/Volusia Line to the mouth of the St. The hurricane center said that on the forecast track the center of Ian will make landfall later today, then track over central Florida tonight and Thursday. Hurricane warnings stretched up the west coast of the Florida peninsula on Wednesday. Mary’s River to South Santee River. “Preparations to protect life and property should be urgently rushed to completion.” As of 9 a.m.

This is a major, major storm,” the governor said early Wednesday as he warned residents in the counties where Ian may make landfall that it was too late to ...

He said the economic impact of closing the airport would be “in the millions.” He added, “unfortunately Ian is not giving us a choice.” A storm surge warning was in effect for Tampa, signaling a danger of life-threatening inundation, and many residents along the edges of the bay were busy evacuating. Some of the city’s urban areas also sit in areas that were ravaged by the 1921 storm, according to the Weather Service. “The impact of the storm is going to be enormous,” he said, adding, “It’s going to be a tragic event in many ways.” A team of about 120 employees have volunteered to ride out the storm at the airport, he said. “This is a lot of nasty weather that we’re in store for over the next few days,” he said. “It was fast and kind of out of nowhere,” Estevez said, recalling that a couple of hours earlier, the wind gusts were strong but the rain seemed light. And the hope was to start generating enough power in the east and center to connect the three sections. “That is knocking on the door of a Category 5 storm,” he says. The storm is going to “really barrel across the state,” Gov. Hurricane Ian, now a powerful Category 4 storm, closed in on the western coast of Florida early Wednesday, with “extremely dangerous” rains and winds expected to intensify in coastal areas soon. Ron DeSantis of Florida said in a news briefing that Ian will not be “just a 48-hour ordeal,” noting that the period after a storm passes can often be the most risky.