It was one of the worst storms to hit Southwest Florida in recent history as it brought massive storm surges, incredible amounts of rain, and some of the strongest winds ever recorded in Florida.
With sustained winds of 155 mph, Ian surged to a near Category 5 hurricane early Wednesday.
Landfall was made at 3:05 p.m. near Cayo Costa with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. As the hurricane moved inland, maximum sustained winds dropped to 140 and 115 mph.
By early Wednesday afternoon, television and social media videos showed buildings and cars submerged in water due to storm surge flooding around Fort Myers and Naples. Inundated communities included Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island.
A wide area of inland flooding is expected due to heavy rains and extensive wind damage near the storm’s landfall.
To fully recover the impacted areas, Gov. Ron DeSantis predicted “an unprecedented effort in the history of the state.”
Where is Hurricane Ian right now?
See NWS radar showing the storm’s movement near Sarasota, Florida.
Check Here – https://www.weather.gov/tbw/
Having driven past Cuba, Hurricane Ian will bring heavy rain to south Florida today, spreading into central and northern Florida by Wednesday.
According to the NHC advisory, Hurricane Ian could land along Florida’s Gulf coast late Wednesday night. The hurricane is expected to produce significant wind and storm surge impacts along the west coast of Florida.
As Ian moves across the Caribbean, the radar below shows what conditions are like over Southwest Florida. (Refresh the page for the latest radar loop.)