Hurricane Ian - live: Florida counties face evacuations from category 2 storm as winds reach 100mph

Mandatory evacuations are underway in parts of Florida amid warnings of life-threatening conditions from Hurricane Ian in the coming days.

The powerful system will impact the Cayman Islands and western Cuba on Monday and is tracking to hit Florida as a major, Category 4 hurricane by mid-week. Conditions in western Cuba will deteriorate this evening with significant winds and storm surge of up to 14 feet.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has warned people to prepare but not panic. “This is a really, really big hurricane at this point,” Gov. DeSantis said.

On Monday afternoon, the storm was rated a Category 2 hurricane, with sustsained winds of up to 100mph.

Gas stations and stores experienced shortages across Florida as residents prepared for impact.

Some 300,000 people are being evacuated in parts of Hillsborough county, which includes the city of Tampa, along with Manatee and Hernando counties. Pinellas County, which includes the cities of Clearwater and St Petersburg, will begin mandatory evacuations on Monday evening at 6pm.

There is risk of flash flooding, strong winds, storm surge of up to 10 feet, and possible isolated tornadoes along Florida’s Gulf Coast with impacts beginning up to 36 hours before the peak.

As Florida prepares, Atlantic Canada and parts of the Caribbean including Puerto Rico are still recovering from Hurricane Fiona last week.

Key Points

• Gas lines and panic buying as Hurricane Ian heads towards Florida

• Storm surge could reach 10 feet in Tampa area

• Hurricane Ian demonstrates the climate-driven perils of ‘rapid intensification'

• Mandatory evacuations underway in parts of Florida

• Hurricane Ian taking aim at Cayman Islands and Cuba

• Hurricane season is in full swing. Here’s why storms are getting stronger

Hurricane Ian strengthens into category 3 storm

07:56 , Sravasti Dasgupta

The National Hurricane Centre said today that Ian has strengthened into a category 3 hurricane and is expected to make landfall over western Cuba.

The hurricane is about 35 miles (55km) south of the city of Pinar Del Rio Cuba, with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour (185kmph), the NHC said.

National Hurricane Centre warns of 'life threatening' storm surge and flash floods

07:15 , Sravasti Dasgupta

The National Hurricane Centre has warned of life threatening storm surge, hurricane force winds, flash floods and possible mud slides in portions of western Cuba through today.

It has also said that there is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along much of the Florida west coast, with the highest risk from Fort Myers to the Tampa Bay region.

Heavy rainfall is expected to increase across the Florida Keys and South Florida on Tuesday, spreading into central and northern FLorida tomorrow and on Thursday and the southeast by Friday and Saturday.

06:15 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Rain and winds lashed Cuba’s western tip as Hurricane Ian gained strength. Authorities have evacuated 50,000 people, reported the Associated Press.

Officials in Cuba’s Pinar del Rio province set up 55 shelters and rushed in emergency personnel.

Authorities have also taken measures to protect crops in Cuba’s main tobacco-growing region ahead of Ian’s expected landfall early today.

The US National Hurricane Centre said the island’s west coast could see as much as 14 feet (4.3 metres) of storm surge.

“Cuba is expecting extreme hurricane-force winds, also life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall,” hurricane centre senior specialist Daniel Brown said.

After passing Cuba, Ian is forecast to strengthen further over the Gulf of Mexico before reaching Florida as early tomorrow as a Category 4 storm with top winds of 140 mph (225 km/h).

Hurricane Ian: A historic storm

05:15 , Josh Marcus

Hurricane Ian is historic for a number of reasons.

It’s rapid ascension from tropical storm to a likely Category 4 hurricane in a span of a few days is historic enough, a sign of our climate-changed times.

The hurricane also marks the first direct hurricane hit in Tampa and St Petersburg Florida since 1921.

“Please treat this storm seriously. It’s the real deal. This is not a drill,” Hillsborough County Emergency Management Director Timothy Dudley told residents of Tampa at a news conference on Monday.

ICYMI: Long gas lines and panic buying as Hurricane Ian heads towards Florida

04:30 , Josh Marcus

Floridians faced long lines at gas stations and empty shelves as residents prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Ian, a storm expected to reach Category 4 by the time it makes landfall in the Sunshine State later this week.

Lengthy queues were reported throughout the weekend in locations like Pasco County, north of Tampa, Tallahassee and Daytona Beach.

Alicia Socker of Lee County told WINK News she had encountered multiple “no gas” signs as she searched for fuel on Monday.

“No gas. Next gas station on the left, no gas next station in front of Publix, no gas,” she said, before eventually locating a Circle K station with supplies.

“If it was $8 a gallon, I would have gotten a couple right,” she added. “Seriously, when you need it, you need it.”

More details here.

Long gas lines and panic buying as Hurricane Ian heads towards Florida

A dire warning as Hurricane Ian approaches Florida

03:45 , Josh Marcus

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for hundreds of thousands of people as Hurricane Ian charts a path towards the west coast of Florida with severe winds, flash flooding, storm surge and possible tornadoes.

Governor Ron DeSantis warned Floridians to prepare but not panic during a Monday briefing after the storm was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane.

“This is a really, really big hurricane at this point,” Governor DeSantis said. He added that the hurricane’s path was still uncertain meaning that it could “wobble” in or away from the peninsula.

Louise Boyle has the full report.

Hurricane Ian evacuations underway as Florida braces for impact: ‘Get out right now’

How is climate change impacting Hurricane Ian?

03:00 , Josh Marcus

Hurricane Ian became a Category 2 storm on Monday, bearing down on the Cayman Islands and Cuba as Floridians were warned to “be ready” for extreme weather in the coming days.

After months with few notable storms, the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season is in full swing. As Florida prepares for the incoming weather event, Atlantic Canada is recovering from post-tropical cyclone Fiona which made landfall in Nova Scotia early on Saturday.

As the world’s average temperature increases and sea levels rise, hurricanes are expected to become stronger — and the damage more catastrophic, scientists say.

Ethan Freedman has more.

Hurricane season is in full swing. Here’s why storms are getting stronger

Two views on Hurricane Ian as storm approaches Florida

02:10 , Josh Marcus

As night falls over Florida ahead of the approach of Hurricane Ian, here are two views on the growing storm.

One comes from government satellites and another from social media users.

Read the latest update on Hurricane Ian from Ron DeSantis

01:51 , Josh Marcus

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has released his latest update on the strengthening Hurricane Ian.

It contains detailed information on storm surges, school closures, and more.

Get all the information here.

Storm surge could reach 10 feet in Tampa area

01:37 , Josh Marcus

“There’s an old phrase: you hide from wind, but you run from water,” Richard Olson, director of extreme events research at Florida International University (FIU), told The Independent earlier this year. “Water kills more people than wind in a hurricane.”

That’s why Floridians are especially worried about the forecast from Hurricane Ian.

When the now-Category 2 storm hits Florida during the middle of this week, it could bring up to 10 feet of storm surge flooing to places like Tampa Bay, causing extreme damage along Florida’s low-lying coastal areas.

For more on Dr Olson’s work studying storm behaviour, here’s our piece from March.

Florida researchers are building a facility to test future of mega hurricanes

School closures announced as Hurricane Ian approaches Florida

01:17 , Josh Marcus

Multiple school districts in Florida are canceling classes as Hurricane Ian heads toward the state.

Baker, Columbia, and Putnam counties have all decided to close their schools later this week, News4 reports, as have districts in Hillsborough, Manatee, and Pinellas counties.

“Many factors are considered when opening a shelter, so even if our community experiences minimal physical effects from the storm, our district plays an important role,” Putnam Schools wrote in a statement. “School administrators manage the operations of the shelters, bus drivers support the transportation of some community members, food service teams provide meals to shelter occupants, and our custodial, maintenance and IT teams work to keep our facilities in order throughout the event.”

Hurricane Ian demonstrates the climate-driven perils of ‘rapid intensification'

01:02 , Josh Marcus

Hurricane Ian is offering a telling picture of our climate crisis age.

The storm has been rapidly intensifying as it passes through the Carribbean, expected to transform from a tropical storm into a Category 4 hurricane in an unprecedented 72 hours.

“A now climate change driven, once rare phenomenon, rapid intensification could rapidly intensify Ian going over the Gulf of Mexico’s hot waters,” director of the Climate Emergency Institute, said on Monday on Twitter.

Here’s our recent report on how warming oceans are driving stronger—and more deadly—storms.

Climate leaders sound alarm over Hurricane Fiona’s ‘devastating consequences’

Cuban military to evacuate 50,000 as Ian approaches Pinar del Río

Tuesday 27 September 2022 00:47 , Josh Marcus

Before Hurricane Ian hits the US, it is expected to touch down in Cuba’s western Pinar del Río province.

Four reservoirs in the area have already overflowed, and the Cuban military plans to evacuate 50,000 people in the highest-risk areas from the province of 500,000.

The storm, now a Category 2, is expected to reach Category 3 as it passes over western Cuba on its way to Florida.

Throughout the rest of Cuba, officials have authorised extra sales of basic foodstuffs at government stores.

Rain and flooding already under way in Miami before Hurricane Ian enters US

Tuesday 27 September 2022 00:22 , Josh Marcus

Hurricane Ian isn’t forecast to hit Florida until Wednesday, but the storm, recently upgraded to a Category 2, is already flooding parts of Miami and causing man hole covers to burst off in jets of water, according to social media users.

Gas lines and panic buying as Hurricane Ian heads towards Florida

Tuesday 27 September 2022 00:02 , Josh Marcus

Floridians faced long lines at gas stations and empty shelves as residents prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Ian, a storm expected to reach Category 4 by the time it makes landfall in the Sunshine State later this week.

Lengthy queues were reported throughout the weekend in locations like Pasco County, north of Tampa, Tallahassee and Daytona Beach.

Alicia Socker of Lee County told WINK News she had encountered multiple “no gas” signs as she searched for fuel on Monday.

“No gas. Next gas station on the left, no gas next station in front of Publix, no gas,” she said, before eventually locating a Circle K station with supplies.

“If it was $8 a gallon, I would have gotten a couple right,” she added. “Seriously, when you need it, you need it.”

Get the full story below.

Gas lines and panic buying as Hurricane Ian heads towards Florida

ISS captures the very very big picture view on Hurricane Ian

Monday 26 September 2022 23:43 , Josh Marcus

The International Space Station passed high up above Hurricane Ian on Monday, resulting in a spectacular angle on the growing storm.

The clip captures the globe-spanning spiral of the hurricane, which is heading towards western Cuba this evening.

St. Pete-Clearwater Airport to shut down ahead of Hurricane Ian

Monday 26 September 2022 23:27 , Josh Marcus

As Hurricane Ian makes its way towards the US, towns and cities across Florida are waiting in tense anticipation.

St Pete-Clearwater International Airport announced on Tuesday it will close down on Tuesday afternoon, due to mandatory evacuation orders in Pinellas County, which includes numerous low-sitting, west-facing beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida State cancels classes as Ian approaches

Monday 26 September 2022 23:10 , Josh Marcus

Florida State canceled classes for its student population of over 30,000, as Hurricane Ian continues to gain strength.

Class will be out from Tuesday to Friday, while campus will be closed from Thursday to Friday, the university said in an update on Monday.

“As we continue to monitor Hurricane Ian, the safety of our FSU family remains our top priority,” university president Richard McCullough said in a statement.

Hurricane Ian now category 2 as winds reach 100mph

Monday 26 September 2022 22:59 , Josh Marcus

Hurricane Ian is now a category 2 storm with sustained winds of up to 100mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 5pm EDT update.

“It’s really starting to build out and getting impressive, indicative of a storm that’s still strengthening,” according to the NHC’s Jamie Rhome.

Forecasts showed the storm passing over the Florida Keys as soon as early Wednesday morning, before continuing to the rest of Florida later in the day, with coastal areas “very, very vulnerable to storm surge,” Mr Rhome added.

The NHC also said in a statement that “life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds, flash floods and possible mudslides are expected in portions of western Cuba beginning this evening.”

Hurricane Ian evacuations underway as Florida braces for impact: ‘Get out right now’

Monday 26 September 2022 22:35 , Josh Marcus

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for hundreds of thousands of people as Hurricane Ian charts a path towards the west coast of Florida with severe winds, flash flooding, storm surge and possible tornadoes.

Governor Ron DeSantis warned Floridians to prepare but not panic during a Monday briefing after the storm was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane.

“This is a really, really big hurricane at this point,” Governor DeSantis said. He added that the hurricane’s path was still uncertain meaning that it could “wobble” in or away from the peninsula.

Florida’s Gulf Coast is forecast to be severely impacted with conditions worsening up to 36 hours before the peak. Meteorologists report than Ian will be supercharged by warmer waters in the Gulf of Mexico and could hit Florida as a monster Category 4 hurricane with top winds of 140 mph (225 km/h).

7,000 National Guard troops mobilised in storm response

Monday 26 September 2022 22:18 , Josh Marcus

As Hurricane Ian heads towards the Caribbean and Florida, 7,000 National Guard troops have been mobilised to aid in the storm response, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said on Monday.

Speaking at the state’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, he said 5,000 guard members came from Florida, and will be joined by an additional force of 2,000 from Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina.

The governor added that five urban search and rescue teams, as well as the US Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are standing at attention.

All 67 of Florida’s counties are under a state of emergency.

Hurricane Ian strengthens on approach to Cuba, no major damage to Cayman Islands

Monday 26 September 2022 21:51 , Louise Boyle

Hurricane Ian was growing stronger as it approached the western tip of Cuba on track to hit the west coast of Florida as a major hurricane as early as Wednesday.

Authorities in Cuba suspended classes in Pinar del Rio province, sent in medical and emergency personnel, planned to evacuate 20 communities “in the shortest time possible,” and took steps to protect food and other crops in warehouses, according to state media.

“Cuba is expecting extreme hurricane-force winds, also life threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall,” US National Hurricane Center senior specialist Daniel Brown told The Associated Press early Monday.

The hurricane center predicted areas of Cuba’s western coast could see as much as 14 feet (4.3 meters) of storm surge Monday night or early Tuesday.

In Havana, fishermen were taking their boats out of the water along the famous Malecon, the seaside boardwalk, and city workers were busy unclogging storm drains ahead of the expected rain.

Havana resident Adyz Ladron, 35, said the potential for rising water from the storm worries him.

“I am very scared because my house gets completely flooded, with water up to here,” he said, pointing to his chest.

On Monday afternoon, Ian was moving northwest at 13 mph (20 km/h), about 195 miles (310 kilometers) southeast of the western tip of Cuba, with top sustained winds increasing to 85 mph (135 km/h).

The center of the hurricane was passing to the west of the Cayman Islands. No major damage was reported there on Monday, and residents were going back into the streets as the winds died down.

Associated Press

Floridians prepare for Hurricane Ian amid warnings of several feet of storm surge

Monday 26 September 2022 21:35 , Louise Boyle

Residents of Orange County fill sand bags at Baldwin Park to protect their homes in preparation of Hurricane Ian on Monday, September 26, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.

National Hurricane Center - latest 2pm update

Monday 26 September 2022 21:30 , Louise Boyle

The National Hurricane Center issued its latest update on Hurricane Ian at 2pm (EST).

The government of the Cayman Islands changed the Hurricane Warning for Grand Cayman to a Tropical Storm Warning.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

- Cuban provinces of Isla de Juventud, Pinar del Rio, and Artemisa

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

- Grand Cayman

- Cuban provinces of La Habana, Mayabeque, and Matanzas

- Lower Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge westward to Key West

- Dry Tortugas

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:

- Florida Keys from the Card Sound Bridge westward to Key West

- Dry Tortugas

- Florida Bay

- Anclote River southward to the Card Sound Bridge

- Tampa Bay

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:

- Englewood to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

- Little Cayman and Cayman Brac

- Englewood southward to Flamingo

- Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge to the Channel 5 Bridge

- Lake Okeechobee

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within 24 to 36 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours

Source: NOAA/National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Ian nears Cuba

Monday 26 September 2022 21:08 , Louise Boyle

Hurricane Ian was growing stronger as it approached the western tip of Cuba on a track to hit the west coast of Florida as a major hurricane as early as Wednesday.

Ian was forecast to hit the western tip of Cuba as a major hurricane and then become an even stronger Category 4 with top winds of 140 mph (225 km/h) over warm Gulf of Mexico waters before striking Florida.

As of Monday, Tampa and St. Petersburg appeared to be the among the most likely targets for their first direct hit by a major hurricane since 1921.

“Please treat this storm seriously. It’s the real deal. This is not a drill,” Hillsborough County Emergency Management Director Timothy Dudley said at a news conference on storm preparations in Tampa.

Associated Press

‘Get out right now'

Monday 26 September 2022 21:03 , Louise Boyle

As Pinellas County begins mandatory evacuations on Monday evening ahead of Hurricane Ian, a top law enforcement official was blunt in his assessment of the risk.

“Get out right now,” Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said on Monday.

The county, which includes the cities of St Petersburg and Clearwater, is projected to experience some of the most severe impacts from the hurricane.

Hurricane Ian is expected to strengthen to a Category 4 as it turns towards Florida’s Gulf coast. Pinellas county and neigboring areas could see up to 10 feet of storm surge.

At a press conference, the sheriff said that while residents will not be forced to leave, they were being urged to take the calls for mandatory evacuations seriously.

“What it means is, we’re not going to come help you. If you don’t do it, you’re on your own,” he said. More information on Florida’s evacuation zones can be found here.

Pinellas County will begin mandatory evacuations on Monday evening

Monday 26 September 2022 20:48 , Louise Boyle

Mandatory evacuations go into effect for parts of Pinellas County, Florida at 6pm local time on Monday.

“All residents in Evacuation Zone A (including all mobile home residents) will be under mandatory evacuation orders. Mandatory orders for evacuation zones B and C will be effective tomorrow morning at 7am,” the Pinellas County’s Department of Emergency Management tweeted.

Storm surge warning issued

Monday 26 September 2022 20:16 , Louise Boyle

The National Hurricane Center’s storm surge unit issued a warning on Monday about the dangers along Florida’s west coast beginning late on Tuesday.

Low-lying Key West could see up to 4 feet of surge while the Tampa area could see up to 10feet, the NHC warned.

Zoo Miami to close during hurricane

Monday 26 September 2022 19:40 , Louise Boyle

Zoo Miami is set to close on Tuesday and Wednesday “in an abundance of caution”, the facility said.

Though the Florida city is not expected to be under major threat from Hurricane Ian, the zoo said that staff wanted to focus on its “residents” and make sure they are prepared should there be significant wind or rain in the area.

Cuba’s west coast bracing for 14feet of storm surge

Monday 26 September 2022 19:15 , Louise Boyle

Cuba’s western edge could see up to 14 feet (4.3 meters) of storm surge tonight or into the early hours of Tuesday from Hurricane Ian.

The storm is around 100 miles (160km) west of Grand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands, and heading northwest towards Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 130km per hour (80 miles per hour). It is not expected to spend much time over Cuba but move quickly across the Gulf towards Florida.

Classes were suspended in Pinar del Rio province and evacuations were underway on Monday with Cuba also shutting down its train system ahead of the worst weather.

As the hurricane approached the Cayman Islands, members of the government and opposition were working together “to ensure that our people are made as safe as possible — the supplies, plywood, in some cases sandbags, are distributed so that they can safely weather this storm,” Premier Wayne Panton said in a video posted on Sunday.

“We must prepare for the worst and absolutely pray and hope for the best.”

AP

So...it’s your first hurricane? Florida’s Department of Emergency Management shares tips

Monday 26 September 2022 19:06 , Louise Boyle

Whether it’s your first hurricane or you’re a veteran of major storms, Florida’s Department of Emergency Management is posting useful tips on its Twitter account.

The National Hurricane Center estimates timings for tropical storm force winds in Florida

Monday 26 September 2022 18:56 , Louise Boyle

Hurricane Ian is barrelling towards the western edge of Cuba and will strike as a major hurricane later today.

Forecasters have warned that warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico will supercharge the storm as it moves towards Florida as a possible Category 4 hurricane with top winds of 140 mph (225 km/h).

Disney ‘closely monitoring’ Hurricane Ian as storm expected to hit theme park

Monday 26 September 2022 18:43 , Louise Boyle

Disney is “closely monitoring” Hurricane Ian as the storm is expected to hit the theme park.

“Walt Disney World Resort is operating under normal conditions. We are closely monitoring the path of the projected weather as we continue to prioritize the safety of our Guests and Cast Members,” the company said.

The hurricane’s path is projected to directly hit the Walt Disney World Resort and the Universal Orlando Resort in Central Florida, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

More on this breaking story below.

Disney ‘closely monitoring’ Hurricane Ian as storm expected to hit theme park