Bands of wind and rain continue to batter the west coast of Florida even as Hurricane Ian moves inland, knocking down power lines, cell phone towers and cutting electricity to more than a million residents.. The storm made landfall near Cayo Costa, about 20 miles south of Fort Myers, at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday.
There are 1,295,261 Florida homes and businesses without power and that number keeps climbing. Police have been pulled off the streets in some cities because of the danger, and warnings continue for life-threatening storm surge and bridges have been closed, including the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
The storm is producing 150 mph winds, down from its 155 mph winds offshore but still within the Category 4 parameters, and is producing hurricane conditions 40 miles from the eye.
The NHC said residents say Hurricane Ian is wreaking havoc in Port Charlotte and Fort Myers, producing catastrophic storm surge and 100 mph winds, according to the Florida Hurricane Center.
In Port Charlotte, residents who hunkered down in their homes are reporting ominous roaring sounds caused by the hurricane-force winds. They’re also seeing fallen trees, loose debris flying around and flooded roads, said forecasters.
The NHC said it has received reports from Fort Myers Beach of storm surge that’s more than a story high, inundating homes along the beach.
“It seems like over the last 12 to 24 hours whenever you look at this storm it’s just been bad news, it gets stronger, it gets larger,” DeSantis said at an afternoon news conference. “This is a really, really significant storm. It will be one of the storms people always remember when they think about southwest Florida. It will probably be the big one they remember.”
Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, urged residents not to become complacent if the weather suddenly calms. That could mean they are in the eye and still in danger.
“As the eye wall starts to come on shore, if everything stops, the storm is not over. Stay inside stay indoors; do not go outside. You do not know when that eye wall will collapse,” Guthrie said.
Hurricane Ian had begun meandering northwest across Florida to the Atlantic Ocean at 9 mph.
The NHC said the track is still uncertain. Nevertheless, Polk and Orange counties are preparing for the worst. They’ve activated storm shelters, something the counties hadn’t anticipated having to do. In fact, hotels in Polk and Orange counties are at maximum capacity because they’re filled with west coast residents who fled to Central Florida to escape the hurricane.
Polk and Orange counties should expect strong winds, possibly from 85 to 120 mph, heavy rains and dangerous flooding, forecasters said.
Although the NHC’s 12-hour forecast shows a slight weakening of the hurricane to a Category 2 as it crosses the state, forecasters said Central Florida said the storm-force winds could flatten mobile homes, trailers and recreational vehicles.
Hurricane Ian’s winds extend 40 miles from the eye and destructive winds continue to be a concern.
A rare extreme wind warning was issued by the National Weather Service for southwestern Charlotte County and south central Sarasota County until 2 p.m. because of extreme winds associated with the eyewall of Hurricane Ian, warning residents, “This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation.”
According to the National Weather Service, an extreme wind warning is issued when sustained surface winds from a tropical cyclone reach 115 mph or higher or are expected.
Due to the strong winds, the Florida Highway Patrol closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Wednesday morning and may close the Howard Frankland Bridge and Courtney Campbell Causeway.
The National Hurricane Center said areas north of Fort Myers, including Sarasota and Manatee counties, are already reporting winds of more than 100 mph.
Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are included in the warning. Gusts of 127 mph have been reported at St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport and 60 mph at Tampa International Airport.
Communities in Hillsborough and Pasco counties could experience maximum sustained winds of 50 to 55 mph, forecasters said.
While the barrier islands and coastal regions were under mandatory evacuations, not everyone left those areas. DeSantis said it’s unclear how many residents remained in their homes.
“Local officials were not going to grab them by the shirt collar and drag them out of their own house,” he said.
Nevertheless, DeSantis said he made sure that the most vulnerable residents were evacuated. About 350 patients were evacuated from 15 hospitals and 150 medical facilities.
Additionally, 91 assisted living facilities evacuated 3,012 residents and 40 nursing homes relocated 3,508 residents ahead of the storm.
The NHC is still forecasting catastrophic storm surge of 12 to 18 feet along with destructive waves from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor. However, the storm surge for Tampa Bay is expected to be significantly less than originally forecast.
Theme parks across Florida closed ahead of Hurricane Ian’s arrival. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay shut down first, and was quickly followed by Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando and LEGOLAND.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody expanded Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline as Hurricane Ian approached, allowing residents statewide to report instances of severe price increases on essential commodities needed to prepare for the storm.
The coastline has already experienced 4 inches of rain in the last 12 hours. Forecasters said nearly 5 more inches of rain will be dumped on the coastline as a heavy and nearly stationary rain band hovers over the southwest part of the state.
Heavy rainfall will spread across the Florida peninsula through Thursday and reach portions of the Southeast U.S. later this week and this weekend. Widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flooding of rivers is expected across portions of central Florida with considerable flooding in southern Florida, northern Florida, southeastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina.
Accordingly, the National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch from northeastern Florida up the coast through most of coastal South Carolina.
Hurricane Ian could also spawn tornadoes as it meanders across Florida.
Meteorologists are drawing comparisons to some of the most notorious hurricanes to ever pummel the state.
“This is going to be a nasty, nasty day, two days,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said early Wednesday. He urged people to stay put until first responders have ensured there are no dangers, such as downed power lines or flooded roads, that could pose a threat.
The NHC is predicting 2 feet of rain could fall in some areas, leading to historic flooding. There’s a heavy and nearly stationary rain band over the southwest part of the state, dumping nearly 4 inches of rain in the last 12 hours.
If people want to donate to cleanup efforts, they can go to the Florida Disaster Fund: www.FloridaDisaster.org.
And those who want to volunteer to help with storm cleanup should sign up at www.volunteerFlorida.org.