At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Ian was located by
NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft, Cuban and Key West radar data near
latitude 22.6 North, longitude 83.6 West. Ian is moving toward the
north near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue
today. A turn toward the north-northeast with a reduction in
forward speed is forecast tonight and Wednesday. On the forecast
track, the center of Ian is expected to emerge over the southeastern
Gulf of Mexico in a couple of hours, pass west of the Florida Keys
later today, and approach the west coast of Florida within the
hurricane warning area on Wednesday and Wednesday night.
Maximum sustained winds are estimated near 125 mph (205 km/h) with
higher gusts. Ian is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale. Little change in strength is expected while
Ian moves over Cuba. Strengthening is expected later this morning
after Ian emerges over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Ian is
forecast to approach the west coast of Florida as a dangerous major
hurricane.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115
miles (185 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 950 mb (28.05 inches)
based on NOAA Hurricane Hunter data.
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 Bonita Beach, FL including Tampa
Bay and Charlotte Harbor...5-10 ft
* Suwannee River to Anclote River... 5-8 ft
* Bonita Beach, FL to Chokoloskee, FL... 4-7 ft
* Chokoloskee, FL to East Cape Sable, FL...3-5 ft
* Flagler/Volusia County Line, FL to Altamaha Sound including
St. Johns River...2-4 ft
* East Cape Sable, FL to Card Sound Bridge, FL including Florida
Bay...2-4 ft
* Aucilla River to Suwannee River...2-4 ft
* Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas...2-4 ft
* Indian Pass, FL to Aucilla River...1-3 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 early today.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area in
Cuba through this morning. Destructive winds are expected where the
core of Ian moves across western Cuba. Tropical storm conditions
are expected within the tropical storm warning area in Cuba today.
Hurricane conditions are expected along the west coast of Florida
within the Hurricane Warning area on Wednesday morning, with
tropical storm conditions possibly beginning by late today. Tropical
storm conditions are expected in the Tropical Storm Warning area
along the southwest coast of the Florida peninsula by this evening,
and along the west coast north of the Tampa Bay area and along
portions of the east coast of Florida on Wednesday. Hurricane
conditions are possible in the watch area beginning on Wednesday,
and tropical storm conditions are possible in the Tropical Storm
Watch area on Wednesday into early Thursday.
Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area in the
lower and middle Florida Keys beginning later today.
RAINFALL: Ian is expected to produce the following rainfall through
Thursday night:
* Western Cuba: 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals up to 16
inches. These rains may produce flash flooding and mudslides in
areas of higher terrain over western Cuba.
* Florida Keys and South Florida: 4 to 6 inches, with isolated
totals up to 8 inches
* Central West Florida: 12 to 16 inches, with isolated totals up to
24 inches.
* Northeast Florida and the remainder of the Central Florida
Peninsula: 5 to 10 inches, with isolated totals up to 12 inches.
Heavy rainfall is expected to affect the southeastern United States
Friday and Saturday.
Widespread considerable flash and urban flooding are expected
mid-to-late week across central and northern Florida, southern
Georgia, and coastal South Carolina, with significant, prolonged
river flooding expected across central to northern Florida. Flash
and urban flooding are also expected with rainfall across southern
Florida through mid week. Limited flash and river flooding is
expected over portions of the southeastern United States into the
Mid-Atlantic mid-to-late week.
TORNADOES: Tornadoes are possible today through Wednesday across
the Florida Keys and the southern and central Florida Peninsula.
SURF: Swells generated by Ian are affecting the western Caribbean,
and will begin to affect the Florida Keys today, and will spread
northward throughout the eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight and
Wednesday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf
and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local
weather office.
Comments