Florida Braces For Up To Ten Feet Of Storm Surge

NBC News reports:

A storm surge warning is in effect for the Tampa Bay area, which means deadly inundation could hit within the next 48 hours. A surge of up to 10 feet of ocean water and 16 inches of rain was predicted across the Tampa Bay area, with as much as 24 inches in isolated areas. That’s enough water to inundate low-lying coastal communities. The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast, near and to the right of the center, where the surge will be accompanied by large waves, NHC says.

The Washington Post reports:

The precise size and strength of Ian, as well as what path it ultimately will carve as it ambles up the Gulf of Mexico, remained uncertain on Monday evening. But this much is clear: The Tampa Bay region that lies in its crosshairs, with nearly 700 miles of shoreline and more than 3 million residents, is one of the most vulnerable places in the United States to severe flooding if a catastrophic hurricane were to score a direct hit.

The Weather Channel reports:



Storm surge flooding could begin in far South Florida late Tuesday, and in the rest of western Florida starting Wednesday. The peak surge, possibly up to 10 feet, will occur near and south of where the center makes landfall in western Florida on Wednesday or Thursday. That could be anywhere from near the Tampa area to near the Fort Myers area. Evacuate if you are ordered to do so or you could be putting yourself at serious risk.