Its exact path still uncertain, Tropical Storm Ian strengthened Sunday night as it churned in the Caribbean, threatening to arrive in Florida as a hurricane packing powerful winds and dangerous storm surge.
Its exact path still uncertain, Tropical Storm Ian strengthened Sunday night as it churned in the Caribbean, threatening to arrive in Florida as a hurricane packing powerful winds and dangerous storm surge.
Even as the storm grows stronger — with sustained winds now at 65 mph — there remains “higher than usual” uncertainty over its track and intensity, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is forecast to become a hurricane Monday and strengthen to a major hurricane of Category 3 or higher by Tuesday, the center said.
lan is forecast to grow to hurricane strength when it nears western Cuba Monday morning, potentially reaching Category 2 strength when it makes landfall. “Life-threatening” storm surge and hurricane-force winds are expected, the center said. “Efforts to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” forecasters added.
The storm is expected to produce “heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and possible mudslides” in areas of higher terrain, particularly over Jamaica and Cuba.
Models project different scenarios about where it could make landfall in Florida, and how strong it could be by midweek. As of Sunday, meteorologists predicted the storm will peak at Category 4 strength over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, then weaken before reaching Florida.
Regardless of lan’s exact track and intensity, Floridians are being asked to prepare as they face the risk of dangerous storm surge, strong winds, and heavy rainfall along the west coast and the Florida Panhandle, the hurricane center said.
With flash and urban flooding possible across the Florida Keys and the Florida Peninsula through the middle of the week, a tropical storm warning was issued for the lower Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge southward to Key West.
Governor activates national guards, cities brace for potential hurricane
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the National Guard Sunday morning, saying though the path of the storm is still uncertain, the impacts will be broadly felt throughout the state. State and federal disaster declarations were made over the weekend.
One model is projecting Ian to make landfall in the Tampa Bay region while another model is projecting landfall into the Panhandle, DeSantis said.
