As Hurricane Ian approaches Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis is holding a press conference Tuesday morning. Ian is currently a Category 3 storm and is anticipated to strengthen to a Category 4 with gusts of 140 mph.
According to experts, the hurricane was pummeling Cuba with severe gusts and a life-threatening storm surge on Tuesday morning. Some places could receive up to 16 inches of rain, while the storm surge along western Cuba could elevate water levels by as much as 14 feet.
The west coast of Florida is likely to experience hurricane conditions on Wednesday morning, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Tuesday.
National Hurricane Center: “By this evening, tropical storm conditions are predicted in the Tropical Storm Warning region over the southwest coast of the Florida peninsula, along the west coast north of the Tampa Bay area, and along portions of the east coast of Florida on Wednesday.”
“Strengthening is anticipated as Ian emerges over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico later this morning,” it warned. The hurricane Ian is expected to strike the west coast of Florida as a hazardous major storm.
Some towns surrounding Tampa Bay were ordered to evacuate on Monday, while others were asked to leave voluntarily. Tampa and St. Petersburg appeared to be among the cities most likely to be struck directly by a big hurricane for the first time in a century. DeSantis has cautioned that even if Ian does not directly strike the area, it might still suffer the consequences of the storm.
Associated Press has made a contribution.