Publix Closing Tampa Bay-Area Stores Ahead Of Irma

LAKELAND, FL — As Hurricane Irma threatens the Tampa Bay area, Publix stores in the region have announced plans to close down. The precise timing of closing ranges by county.

Publix spokesman Brian West confirmed the decision to shut stores to weather out the storm on Friday.

“With the impending weather conditions worsening, and considering the safety of our customers and associates, we will begin closing all stores in the area,” West said. (For more hurricane news or local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Lakeland Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

All stores in Sarasota, Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Desoto counties will close Friday at 8 p.m. and reopen on Monday, if the weather permits. Highlands County stores will shut down at noon on Saturday and will reopen on Tuesday, if the weather allows.

Polk, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Hernando and Lake county stores will shut down at 8 p.m. Saturday. They will reopen on Tuesday, if the weather permits.

Watch: Florida Braces As Irma Rips Across The Caribbean

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“There are some exceptions to this based on bridge closings or local evacuations,” West said.

By 11 a.m. Sept. 8, Irma had downgraded to a strong Category 4 storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. Irma was located about 405 miles southeast of Miami, moving west-northwest at 14 mph.

Patch file photo