As Tropical Storm Ian is set to become a hurricane on Monday, officials in Key West, Florida, are urging preparation.
Ian reached. winds of 50 mph on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service’s Florida Keys division. The National Hurricane Center anticipated the storm “to begin rapidly strengthening” Sunday night. It is over the Caribbean Sea and is expected to move northwest on Monday and Tuesday, affecting Jamaica, Cuba, and Florida.
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“Reminder: Preparations for possible tropical storm conditions should be complete by late evening Monday,” NWS tweeted Sunday.
The Florida Keys including the Lower Keys and the Dry Tortugas are under a tropical storm watch and a coastal flood watch, with estimated flooding of 1-2 feet higher than the typical high tides recorded in the area.
“The NHC intensity forecast shows Ian becoming a hurricane on Monday and a major hurricane on Tuesday,” NWS tweeted.
As a result, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a renewed emergency order Saturday over all of Florida. Previously, the order only included 12 of the state’s counties.
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“This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations,” DeSantis said in a statement. “We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to track potential impacts of this storm.”
Ian’s forecast is still uncertain in its track and intensity, according to the NHC. Florida’s inland last fell within the reach of a hurricane in October 2018 during Hurricane Michael.
