Ian To Be Category 4 By Morning, ‘Rush’ To Prepare: NWS

FLORIDA — Located 250 miles south of Tampa Bay, Hurricane Ian is now a Category 3 hurricane. But as the hurricane continues moving north-northeast in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, it is expected to further strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane by early Wednesday morning.

Residents should rush to complete any preparations for the storm, said the National Weather Service.

The storm's current maximum sustained wind speed of 120 mph is down from 125 mph Tuesday morning as the hurricane moves north at 10 mph.

Current models from the National Weather Service shows the hurricane making landfall south of Sarasota, but the west coast from Fort Myers to Tampa Bay should prepare for life-threatening surge having possible devastating impacts across Tampa Bay and southwest Florida.

Stay up-to-date by viewing all Hurricane Ian coverage on Patch here.

The National Weather Service said the main rain band with tropical storm-force winds will enter Southwest Florida Tuesday evening.

Southwest Florida Tuesday evening and Tampa Bay will begin experiencing the effects early Wednesday morning. Major hurricane landfall is likely on Wednesday night.

The area inside the hurricane cone, including Tampa Bay, could be bombarded with 2 feet of rain, causing extreme flooding, said the NWS.

The NWS is forecasting storm surge of 10 to 15 feet for Southwest Florida, 5 to 10 feet for Tampa Bay and 5 to 8 feet for the Nature Coast, including Pasco County.

Hurricane-driven storm surge can cause significant property damage when high winds and low pressure cause water to amass inside the storm, releasing a powerful rush over land when the hurricane moves onshore.

The NWS said the following watches and warnings are now in effect in Florida:

A watch means residents can expect severe weather conditions in 48 hours and a warning means the severe weather conditions are expected within 24 hours.

The hurricane watch has been canceled for coastal Citrus, coastal Hernando, coastal Levy, coastal Pasco, inland Citrus, inland Hernando, inland Levy, inland Pasco and Sumter counties.

The tropical storm warning and hurricane watch have been upgraded to a hurricane warning for Highlands County.

A storm surge warning and tropical storm warning are in effect for coastal Citrus, coastal Hernando, coastal Levy and coastal Pasco counties.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for inland Citrus, inland Hernando, inland Levy, inland Pasco and Sumter counties.

A storm surge warning and hurricane warning are in effect for coastal Charlotte, coastal Hillsborough, coastal Lee, coastal Manatee, coastal Sarasota, inland Lee and Pinellas counties.

A hurricane warning is in effect for DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, inland Charlotte, inland Hillsborough, inland Manatee, inland Sarasota and Polk counties.

A storm surge warning and hurricane warning are in effect for coastal Charlotte, coastal Hillsborough, coastal Lee, coastal Manatee, coastal Sarasota, inland Lee and Pinellas counties.

A hurricane warning is in effect for DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, inland Charlotte, inland Hillsborough, inland Manatee, inland Sarasota and Polk counties.

Related:

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