Ian strengthens to Cat 4 storm on its way toward Florida
FLORIDA, USA - Hurricane Ian has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm as it churns toward Florida, packing sustained winds of 140 mph, the National Hurricane Center says.
Millions are being urged to evacuate as powerful Hurricane Ian barrels towards Florida, packing the potential for catastrophic flooding and life-threatening storm surge.
The Category 3 hurricane walloped Cuba after making landfall Tuesday morning, flooding fields, toppling trees and knocking out the island’s power grid.
Ian, now packing powerful 120 mph sustained winds, is expected to slam into the Florida peninsula Wednesday afternoon to evening as a monster Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane, likely somewhere between Sarasota and Port Charlotte, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Devastating wind damage is expected near Ian’s core, the center said.
The hurricane, which was about 90 miles southwest of Naples early Wednesday, began lashing the Florida Keys Tuesday with tropical storm-force winds and power outages.
As Ian moved closer to the state overnight, tropical storm-force winds were reaching the coasts of Southeast and Southwest Florida and major flooding was being reported in Key West due to storm surge.
Water levels were hitting about 2.5 feet above Mean Higher High Water – the third highest level behind 2005’s Hurricane Wilma and 2017’s Hurricane Irma, according to CNN Meteorologist Robert Shackelford.
At least two possible tornadoes were reported in Broward County, including at North Perry Airport, where several planes and hangers were damaged.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect on Florida’s Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay, and in the Dry Tortugas. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for multiple coastal areas, including Tampa Bay.
“This will be a statewide event,” Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said.
Schools, supermarkets, theme parks and hospitals across the Sunshine State have announced closures, flights have been canceled, the Navy is moving its ships, the Coast Guard has closed ports, people are boarding up their homes and many are leaving in droves on congested highways.
“The time to evacuate is now,” Guthrie told Floridians Tuesday.
As the storm approaches and winds pick up, officials may close bridges, complicating evacuations for those who don’t leave right away. Gas stations may also temporarily run out of fuel, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
More than 2.5 million people in Florida have been advised to flee as Ian advances on the state, including 1.75 million people under mandatory evacuation orders, DeSantis said.
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