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Tropical Storm Ian strengthens in the Caribbean and moves towards Florida

2022-09-24T16:46:05.554Z


Ian could be "a major hurricane" as it approaches the west coast of Florida after passing over Cuba. Much of Florida's Gulf Coast, including the eastern Panhandle, could be at risk.


State of emergency in Florida before the arrival of a possible hurricane 0:45

(CNN)

-- The ninth named tropical storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season has formed in the central Caribbean Sea, and forecasters say Florida could soon be hit by its first major hurricane since 2018.

As of 8 a.m. Saturday, Tropical Storm Ian was located about 300 miles (482 kilometers) south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and was moving westward at 15 mph (24 km/h), according to the Center Hurricane National.

The center's forecast on Friday called Ian "a major hurricane over the eastern Gulf as it approaches the west coast of Florida" after passing briefly over Cuba.

Much of Florida's Gulf Coast, including Northwest Florida, could be at risk.

Forecast projections for Saturday morning vary depending on where Ian is likely to make landfall on the Florida coast.

The European model shows landfall near Fort Myers on Wednesday afternoon, while the US model shows landfall near the Big Bend region of the state on early Friday morning.

5 things: tropical depression nine could become a hurricane 2:15

The official hurricane center instead splits the difference between the two models and shows landfall near Tampa on Wednesday night.

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Tropical-storm-force winds could begin affecting Southwest Florida early Tuesday, with a possibility of landfall on Wednesday.

After strengthening overnight, the storm, formerly known as Tropical Depression Nine, has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and is forecast to reach hurricane status over the next two days as it approaches the Cayman Islands on Monday morning.

Further strengthening is anticipated as the system approaches and crosses into western Cuba on Monday night.

As it re-emerges into the warm waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the storm is likely to reach major hurricane status with winds of 111 mph (178 km/h) or greater.

"Ian is likely to reach major hurricane intensity as it approaches western Cuba," the hurricane center said.

"Since Ian is not expected to remain over Cuba for very long, there could be little weakening due to that ground interaction."

Newly named tropical storm Ian

If it strengthens to a Category 3 or higher before reaching Florida, it would be the first major hurricane to make landfall there since Hurricane Michael in 2018, which was a monster Category 5 storm when it hit the Florida panhandle.

Michael also experienced rapid intensification before landfall, a phenomenon that has become more likely as ocean temperatures warm due to the climate crisis.

A hurricane watch has been issued for the Cayman Islands, including Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

The Jamaican government has also issued a tropical storm watch.

A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate Ian and provide additional data later on Saturday, according to the center.

Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday requested emergency federal assistance in anticipation of the threat and also declared a state of emergency for 24 counties.

Under the statewide emergency order, members of the Florida National Guard will be activated and standby for orders.

The governor urged those in the potential path of the storm to prepare.

"This storm has the potential to become a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to prepare," DeSantis said in a news release.

"We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to track potential impacts from this storm."

Meteorologists urge residents to prepare

The start of what is forecast to be an above-average hurricane season has been slow.

So far, only one storm has made landfall in a US territory, and no hurricanes have even threatened adjoining states.

But now, a week after the peak of hurricane season, the tropics seem to have woken up and meteorologists are worried that people have let their guard down.

"After a slow start, the Atlantic hurricane season rapidly increased in intensity," tweeted Phil Klotzbach, a research scientist at Colorado State University.

"People tend to let their guard down and think 'oh yeah, we're out of the woods,'" María Torres, a spokeswoman for the hurricane center, told CNN.

"But really, the season is going on. We're still in September; we've still got October. We have to keep a very close eye on anything that forms over the Atlantic or the Caribbean."

The Atlantic hurricane season ends on November 30.

Whatever happens, if you live in the Caribbean, Florida and other states along the Gulf Coast, keep an eye out for updated forecasts this weekend, at least through early next week.

FloridaHurricaneHurricane Season

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2022-09-24

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