WATCH: Gov. Ron DeSantis Gives an Update on Hurricane Ian, Expected to Hit Florida on Thursday
By Space Coast Daily // September 26, 2022
WATCH: Governor Ron DeSantis delivers an update on Hurricane Ian.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Ian was upgraded to a Category 1 Hurricane on Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center report.
Ian is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph and carrying 80 max sustained winds. A north-northwestward motion is expected to begin later today, followed by a northward motion on Tuesday with a slightly slower forward speed.
A turn toward the north-northeast with a further reduction in forward speed is forecast on 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 into Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 80 mph with higher gusts.
Rapid strengthening is expected during the next day or so, and Ian is forecast to become a major hurricane tonight or early Tuesday when it is near western Cuba and remain a major hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.
The minimum central pressure based on Air Force and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 980 mb (28.94 inches).
Heavy rainfall is expected to affect North Florida, eastern portions of the Florida Panhandle, and portions of the Southeastern U.S.
Friday and Saturday.
Widespread considerable flash and urban flooding and prolonged significant river flooding impacts are likely mid-to-late week in central Florida given already saturated conditions. Flash and urban flooding impacts are also possible with rainfall across the Florida Keys and the Florida peninsula through mid-week. Limited flooding impacts and rises on area streams and rivers are also possible over northern Florida and portions of the Southeast mid-to-late week.
A few tornadoes are possible late tonight and Tuesday across the Florida Keys and the southern and central Florida Peninsula.
