Next 24 hours will define this storm. If it goes through the rapid intensification predicted and hold its trend towards Tampa, it could be really really bad. Tampa is even more vulnerable than New Orleans is, if the storm comes from the south and sweeps just to the west of the bays. The counter clockwise motion will sweep all the water into them and there’s no where it to go but onto heavily developed land.
The whole west coast is going to have massive issues it looks like. This storm is shaping up to be a worse case scenario for FL, a major hurricane hitting just north of Tampa is maximum economic damage because of that coastline. Hopefully it tracks up closer to big bend area or where less people live, and maybe we dodge a bullet with the flooding. Supposedly the father west the storm goes it will actually weaken (which is counterintuitive for how these storms normally work). The east turn I guess avoids the Tampa hit, but I want no part of that in SWFL.
The UK and European models have it heading south of Tampa. That would be a big difference in terms of damage to Tampa as opposed to making landfall just north. North means we get the right side of the storm and greatly increased surge due to the shape of the bay and storm rotation. We are almost done securing and are evacuating tomorrow morning though we are at 19 feet. We have the river on two sides (we are one block in from a bend), so no Joe Strummer. I do have fear even if [Tampa] is drowning and I…live by the river.
Thanks. We have pet friendly room in Gainesville and South Florida. Will likely cancel Gainesville the way it looks
Live Updates: Hurricane Ian could bring 5-8 foot storm surge, 8-10 inches of rain to Sarasota-Manatee
Check that. Just heard Mike say Euro still just north of TB. The worst outcome short of directly up the bay
Very odd in Jax, TV weather persons are uncharacterstically quiet/calm about this one. They typically try to out hype each other.