WATCH: Tropical Storm Ian to Intensify into Major Hurricane – Point of Predicted Impact Currently Tampa Bay
By Space Coast Daily // September 26, 2022
SPACE COAST DAILY TV SPECIAL PRESENTATION
WATCH: Tropical Storm Watch issued for Brevard County as Hurricane Ian draws closer to Florida. Space Coast Daily’s Zach Clark reports.
Tropical Storm Watch issued for Brevard County
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Florida residents are riveted on Tropical Storm Ian, which the National Hurricane Center is predicting will become a major hurricane and hit along the Florida west coast. The big question at this point is exactly where landfall will happen.
According to the 11 p.m. National Hurricane Center Forecast Cone, the storm is currently predicted to hit the Tampa Bay area at 2 p.m. Thursday.
The storm formed Friday, and Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Friday afternoon for 24 counties that are at risk of being hit.
“This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane,” DeSantis said in the declaration, “and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations.”
This declaration will make available important resources and support, as well as free up funding sources for emergency protective measures. Under this emergency order, members of the Florida National Guard will be activated and on standby awaiting orders.
Tropical Storm Ian was tracking west-northwest with a forward speed of 13 mph with maximum sustained winds were 100 mph.
Governor DeSantis issued the State of Emergency for the following 24 counties:
■ Brevard
■ Broward
■ Charlotte
■ Collier
■ DeSoto
■ Glades
■ Hardee
■ Hendry
■ Highlands
■ Hillsborough
■ Indian River
■ Lee
■ Manatee
■ Martin
■ Miami-Dade
■ Monroe
■ Okeechobee
■ Osceola
■ Palm Beach
■ Pasco
■ Pinellas
■ Polk
■ Sarasota
■ St. Lucie
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