Hurricane Ian

COMMENTARY | A meteorologist explains why the looming storm could be especially dangerous for the state's Gulf Coast.

[Browse The Atlas full case study database](https://the-atlas.com/projects?utm_campaign=articles&utm_content=3-reasons-hurricane-ian-poses-major-flooding-hazard-florida-meteorologist-explains-377647&utm_medium=feature-box&utm_source=route-fifty&utm_term=flooding)or read more case studies about [Flooding](https://the-atlas.com/projects?utm_campaign=articles&term=flooding&utm_medium=feature-box&utm_term=flooding&utm_content=3-reasons-hurricane-ian-poses-major-flooding-hazard-florida-meteorologist-explains-377647&utm_source=route-fifty). [expected to intensify](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=atlc&fdays=2) over the Gulf of Mexico. [Athena Masson](https://theconversation.com/profiles/athena-masson-1231604) is an adjunct professor at [Flagler College](https://theconversation.com/institutions/flagler-college-4996) in St. [Permeable pavement stormwater capture eliminates residential flooding in Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MI](https://the-atlas.com/projects/permeable-pavement-eliminates-residential-flooding-in-grand-rapids-3028?utm_campaign=articles&utm_content=3-reasons-hurricane-ian-poses-major-flooding-hazard-florida-meteorologist-explains-377647&utm_medium=feature-box&utm_source=route-fifty&utm_term=flooding) [Smarter stormwater drainage to head off localized flooding, intensifying rainfall in London boroughCroydon, UK](https://the-atlas.com/projects/smarter-stormwater-drainage-to-head-off-localized-flooding--intensifying-rainfall-in-london-borough-3028?utm_campaign=articles&utm_content=3-reasons-hurricane-ian-poses-major-flooding-hazard-florida-meteorologist-explains-377647&utm_medium=feature-box&utm_source=route-fifty&utm_term=flooding) [slow start](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATWSAT.shtml) to the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, Ian has ideal conditions. The part of the storm east of the center of circulation generally has more cloud cover and more rain. If the storm is large enough, it could even generate storm surge on the eastern side of the Florida Peninsula, like Irma did along portions of northeast Florida. The Tampa Bay area in particular should be monitoring Ian closely, especially if the center of circulation makes a direct impact or if it remains just offshore. [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com) under a Creative Commons license. Since land surrounds the Gulf of Mexico, there is nowhere for this water to go but inland. But as Florida saw with Andrew, wind damage can be catastrophic in these smaller systems. Its winds could weaken before landfall in the U.S., but the scale doesn’t take water risk into account, and flooding and storm surge are both major risks from Ian.

Hurricane Ian is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane before hitting the island of Cuba and Florida later this week as residents brace for heavy ...

Ian is the fourth named hurricane this Atlantic season, following Danielle, Earl and Fiona, and could become just the second hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. The storm is expected to be a “large and powerful hurricane” affecting a “large portion of the Florida peninsula,” Jamie Rhome, the acting director of the National Hurricane Center, told reporters on Sunday. Ian has provoked hurricane watches and warnings for Dry Tortugas, the Florida Keys and Grand Cayman as well as parts of the west coast of Florida, including Tampa Bay. Ian comes a week after Fiona became the first hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. The storm killed at least 16 people and left more than a million households without electricity for days in Puerto Rico, with about 700,000 still without power as of Monday, Forecasters have warned Ian could cause flash flooding in Cuba, the Keys and Florida.

The storm is forecast to become a Category 3 or greater and barrel north to the Florida coast, where residents are stockpiling supplies and filling sandbags.

Cuba is already suffering an economic crisis that has led to long lines for food, fuel and medicine, and regular countrywide blackouts. The storm is set to plow north across the island as it advances into the Gulf of Mexico, but forecasts put its track well west of the Cuban capital of Havana, where a direct hit could cause catastrophic damage to antiquated infrastructure. The storm is forecast to become a Category 3 or greater and barrel north to the Florida coast, where residents are stockpiling supplies and filling sandbags.

The NHC issued Tropical Storm and Hurricane Watches for a portion of the west coast of Florida and may issue additional watches today. Hurricane Ian is expected ...

Another team and a Mobile Emergency Response Support team are in Tallahassee to support any state coordination needs. Department of Health and Human Services deployed a National Disaster Medical System and two health and medical task forces to Florida. [Learn your evacuation routes](https://www.ready.gov/evacuation), and have a [family emergency plan](https://www.ready.gov/plan-form). Supplies in Alabama include more than a million liters of water, more than 480,000 meals and more than 7,200 cots. For people with disabilities and their families, it is important to consider circumstances and needs to effectively prepare. Make sure you include any needed [pet supplies](https://www.ready.gov/pets). - People with access and functional needs, including older adults, may need extra assistance to prepare for the storm. - Now is the time to plan. It’s not too late to create a plan with your family. Hurricane Ian is expected to bring life-threating storm surge, hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall along the west coast of Florida and the panhandle by the middle of the week. The declaration authorizes FEMA to support the state’s response efforts ahead of Ian. Florida activated 2,500 National Guard members to support the state’s response.

Evacuation orders were expanding along Florida's Gulf Coast, Monday, as officials warned residents to prepare for powerful, widespread impacts from a ...

Octavio Jones for The Washington Post Octavio Jones/For The Washington Post

"Devastating wind damage is possible where the core of Ian moves across western Cuba," the US-based National Hurricane Center said. The storm is forecast to ...

Cuba is already suffering an economic crisis that has led to long lines for food, fuel and medicine, and regular countrywide blackouts. The storm is set to plow north across the island as it advances into the Gulf of Mexico, but forecasts put its track well west of the Cuban capital of Havana, where a direct hit could cause catastrophic damage to antiquated infrastructure. The storm is forecast to become a Category 3 or greater and barrel north to the Florida coast, where residents are stockpiling supplies and filling sandbags.

A state of emergency is declared in Florida as residents brace for Hurricane Ian as Cubans shelter from the category 4 storm.

"That's going to cause a huge amount of storm surge. Time is of the essence," she said. You're going to have flood events. A surge of up to three metres of ocean water and 25 centimetres of rain has been predicted across the Tampa Bay area, with as much as 38 centimetres in isolated areas. After passing over Cuba, Ian is forecast to strengthen further over the Gulf of Mexico before reaching Florida as early as Wednesday as a Category 4 storm with top winds of 225kph. Hurricane Ian is on track to hit the US state of Florida with winds gusts of up to 225 kilometres per hour, after lashing Cuba and forcing the evacuation of 50,000 people.