Hurricane Ian is quickly gaining monstrous strength as it moves over oceans partly heated up by climate change. This turbocharging of storms is likely to become even more frequent, scientists say.
rapidly intensified as it neared landfall along Florida’s southwest coast Wednesday morning, gaining top winds of 155 mph , just shy of the most dangerous Category 5 status. Damaging winds and rain lashed the state, and forecasters said the heavily populatedgained strength over warm Gulf of Mexico water
Catastrophic storm surges could push as much as 18 feet to 16 feet of water over a nearly 100-mile stretch of coastline, from Bonita Beach north through Fort Myers and Charlotte Harbor to Englewood, the hurricane center warned. Rainfall near the area of landfall could top 18 inches . Florida residents rushed ahead of the impact to board up their homes, stash precious belongings on upper floors and join long lines of cars leaving the shore.
“With the higher intensity you’re going to see more extensive wind damage. The larger wind field means that more people will experience those storm-force winds,” University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said. And “it will really increase the amount of storm surge.”first direct hit by a major hurricane since 1921.Instead, the most damaging winds could hit a rapidly developing coastline where the population has jumped sevenfold since 1970, according to the U.S.
A British couple vacationing in Tampa found themselves without beds. Glyn and Christine Williams of London were told to leave their hotel near the beach when evacuations were ordered. Because the airport shut down, they could get no flight home.
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