Hurricane Ian impacting Florida

Hurricane Ian is a category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 250 km/h. It is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida as a catastrophic category 4 hurricane.

The storm will begin to weaken after it makes landfall.

Storm Surge

Storm surge is a major concern with Ian. Water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:

• Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor 12-16 ft

• Middle of Longboat Key to Englewood 6-10 ft

• Bonita Beach to Chokoloskee 7-11 ft

• Anclote River to Middle of Longboat Key, including Tampa Bay 4-6 ft

• Chokoloskee to East Cape Sable 4-7 ft

• Suwannee River to Anclote River 3-5 ft

• Lower Keys from Key West to Big Pine Key, including the Dry Tortugas 3-5 ft

• Flagler/Volusia County Line to Savannah River including St. Johns River 3-5 ft

• St. Johns River south of Julington 2-4 ft

• Savannah River to South Santee River 2-4 ft

• East Cape Sable to Card Sound Bridge 2-4 ft

• Florida Keys east of Big Pine Key 2-4 ft

• Patrick Air Force Base to Flagler/Volusia County Line 1-3 ft

• Indian Pass to Suwanee River 1-3 ft

Wind

The wind will cause catastrophic damage. Winds have already started to increase in intensity along the west coast of Florida and will reach hurricane strength later this morning.

Maximum wind gusts expected:

• Cape Coral 85 mph

• Tampa 65 mph

• Spring Hill 75 mph

• Orlando 70 mph

• Miami 45 mph

Rain:

Very heavy rain is expected across Florida.

For the Florida Keys and South Florida rainfall amounts of 6 to 8 inches, with local maximum amounts of up to 12 inches are possible. Central and Northeast Florida could see 12 to 18 inches with localized amounts of 24 inches. For areas of eastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches, with local amounts of 12 inches is possible.

The heavy rain will cause life-threatening catastrophic flooding across central Florida.

Widespread flooding is expected across portions of southern Florida, northeast Florida, southeastern Georgia, and coastal South Carolina later this week through the weekend.

Severe thunderstorms within the storm are expected to cause tornadoes today and tonight across central and south Florida.

Swells:

Large swells and rip currents are expected along the west coast of Florida and portions of the north-central Gulf coast during the next day or so. Swells will increase along the east coast of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina tonight and Thursday.

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