Intensifying Hurricane Ian forces Florida evacuations
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A couple board up windows as they prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Ian in Indian Shores, 25 miles west of Tampa, Florida, on Monday. Photo: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images
Hurricane Ian triggered evacuation orders across much of Florida’s Gulf Coast as the storm's outer bands unleashed heavy rains across the region on Monday night ahead of expected "life-threatening" storm and flooding by midweek.
Why it matters: Ian's expected to intensify further as it passes near or over western Cuba Tuesday while tracking toward Florida.
State of play: Evacuation orders were expanded to communities across the Florida Gulf Coast throughout Monday — including in the Tampa Bay area, where hurricane and storm surge warnings were in effect.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted Monday evening that school districts in 24 counties had announced school closures. More were expected as Ian neared the state, he added.
Threat level: The NWS said the storm could bring 6-10 inches of rainfall to the Tampa area alongside 45 to 55 mph winds and gusts to 85 mph. There's "potential for wind greater than 110 mph," the agency said.
- "This portion of coastline, the west coast of Florida, is incredibly vulnerable to storm surge," Jamie Rhome, acting director of the National Hurricane Center, said during a press conference Monday.
- "We're indicating the potential for as much as 10 feet of storm surge in portions of the Florida west coast," Rhome added.
What they're saying: "We're expecting sustained tropical or hurricane winds to our barrier islands and coastal communities for as long as 48 hours, with the earliest arrival predicted for 8pm Tuesday," Manatee County administrator Scott Hopes said in a statement.
- “This is a worst-case scenario with a very strong, slow-moving storm just to the west of us," Hopes added.
The big picture: The National Hurricane Center said storm surge, wind and rainfall from Hurricane Ian may be prolonged by the storm's forward motion slowing while it moves toward Florida.
- President Biden declared a federal state of emergency for multiple Florida counties this weekend, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued one for the entire state.
Go deeper: Atlantic hurricane season still looks unusually active, NOAA warns
Editor's note: This article has been updated with details of further evacuations, school closures, Tampa Bay International Airport's plans and the latest weather developments.
