At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Ian was located
near latitude 18.7 North, longitude 82.4 West. Ian is moving toward
the northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h). A turn toward the
north-northwest is expected later today, followed by a northward
motion on Tuesday with a slightly slower forward speed. A turn
toward the north-northeast is forecast on Tuesday night or early
Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center of Ian is expected to
pass near or west of the Cayman Islands today, and near or over
western Cuba tonight and early Tuesday. Ian will then emerge over
the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, pass west of the Florida
Keys late Tuesday, and approach the west coast of Florida on
Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher
gusts. Rapid strengthening is expected during the next day or so,
and Ian is forecast to become a major hurricane tonight when it is
near western Cuba.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90
miles (150 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 981 mb (28.97 inches)
based on dropsonde data from the NOAA and Air Force Hurricane
Hunters.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Ian can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion
under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC and on the
web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT4.shtml.
STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and the tide will
cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising
waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the
following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if
the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
*Anclote River to Englewood, FL including Tampa Bay... 5-8 ft
*Englewood to Bonita Beach, FL including Charlotte Harbor... 4-7 ft
*Bonita Beach to East Cape Sable, FL... 3-5 ft
*East Cape Sable to Card Sound Bridge, FL including Florida Bay...
2-4 ft
*Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas... 2-4 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to
the right of the center, where the surge will be accompanied by
large waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing
of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short
distances. For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.
Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 9 to 14 feet
above normal tide levels along the coast of western Cuba in areas of
onshore winds in the hurricane warning area tonight and early
Tuesday.
Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above
normal tide levels along the immediate coast in areas of onshore
winds in the Cayman Islands today.
WIND: Tropical storm and hurricane conditions are expected on Grand
Cayman today. Hurricane conditions are expected within the warning
area in Cuba tonight, with tropical storm conditions expected
by late today.
Tropical storm conditions are expected within the tropical storm
warning area in Cuba tonight and Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions
are possible on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac today.
Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area in the
lower Florida Keys on Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area along the Florida west coast by
Tuesday evening. Hurricane conditions are possible along the
Florida West coast within the Hurricane Watch area on Wednesday,
with tropical storm conditions possibly beginning by Tuesday
night.
RAINFALL: Ian is expected to produce the following rainfall through
Thursday:
Cayman Islands: 3 to 6 inches, with local maxima up to 8 inches.
Western Cuba: 6 to 10 inches, with local maxima up to 16 inches.
Florida Keys: 4 to 6 inches.
Central West Florida: 8 to 10 inches, with local maxima up to 15
inches.
Remainder of the Florida Peninsula: 3 to 8 inches.
Heavy rainfall is expected to affect North Florida, eastern portions
of the Florida Panhandle, and portions of the Southeast, and Mid
Atlantic regions Friday and Saturday.
These rains may produce flash flooding and mudslides in areas of
higher terrain over western Cuba. Considerable flooding impacts are
possible mid-to-late week in central Florida given already saturated
antecedent conditions, and flash and urban flooding is possible with
rainfall across the Florida Keys and the Florida peninsula through
mid week. Limited flood impacts and rises on area streams and rivers
are possible over northern Florida and portions of the Southeast
mid-to-late week.
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible late tonight and Tuesday
across the Florida Keys and the southern and central Florida
Peninsula.
SURF: Swells generated by Ian are affecting Jamaica and the Cayman
Islands. Swells will spread northwestward to the southwestern coast
of Cuba and the coasts of Honduras, Belize, and the Yucatan
Peninsula of Mexico today and tonight. Swell are expected to begin
affecting the Florida Keys Tuesday and spread northward along the
west coast of Florida through Wednesday. These swells are
likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
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