Ian became a hurricane early Monday, and all of South Florida needs to pay close attention to its progress during the next few days. As of early Monday, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the Lower Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge to Key West, including the Dry Tortugas. There’s a tropical storm watch from Englewood south to Chokoloskee along the Gulf coast. Changes in the watch and warning areas are likely later today.
LIVE RADAR 24/7 (Click Here Then Press Play)
Monday features storms, showers, and clouds. The evening and night hours will be stormy along the Gulf coast, and the east coast metro area will see periods of heavy rain. A high risk of dangerous rip currents remains along the Palm Beach County coast, and there’s a moderate rip current risk at the beaches of Broward and Miami-Dade. Highs on Monday will be in the upper 80s.
Tuesday will feature showers — including periods of heavy rain — and a building breeze in the east coast metro area. Tropical storm conditions are possible along the Gulf coast, and at the very least people there will see heavy rain and very gusty winds. Tuesday’s highs will be in the mid-80s.
Wednesday is expected to see the closest approach of Hurricane Ian to South Florida. Tropical storm conditions are possible along the Gulf coast, and the east coast metro area will be stormy and windy. Flooding rains are possible throughout South Florida, and an isolated tornado is not out of the question. Wednesday’s highs will be in the mid-80s.
Thursday will see some improvement in the weather, but tropical storm conditions are still possible along the Gulf coast during the first part of the day. The east coast metro area can expect showers and storms on a strong breeze. Thursday’s highs will be in the upper 80s.
Friday’s forecast calls for clouds, showers, and storms with a bit of sun at times. Highs on Friday will be in the upper 80s.
Hurricane Ian is forecast to undergo rapid intensification on Monday. At 5 am, Ian was located near 18.2 North, 82.0 West, about 315 miles southeast of the western tip of Cuba. Maximum sustained winds were 75 miles per hour, and Ian was moving northwest at 14 miles per hour. Here in Florida, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the Lower Keys, and there’s a tropical storm watch for the Gulf coast northward to Englewood. A hurricane watch now extends northward from Englewood to north of Tampa Bay. Tropical storm conditions are possible for our portion of the Gulf coast from Tuesday into Thursday, while the east coast metro area will see stormy weather from Tuesday through Wednesday. Flooding is possible throughout South Florida. Ian will become a powerful hurricane, and it poses a major threat to portions of Florida. Please stay updated on its progress — and stay safe.
Elsewhere, Gaston is now a post-tropical system as it continues to move away from the Azores, and what was Hermine is now a remnant low in the far eastern Atlantic. And the wave in the central Atlantic has a medium chance of developing this week.
