Ian Strengthens and Nears Deadly Category 5 Hurricane, 155 MPH Winds

Photo: NOAA

(Miami, FL) -- Hurricane Ian is growing more powerful and more dangerous as it bears down on the Florida Gulf Coast.

The National Hurricane Center reports that Ian is nearing Category 5 hurricane at 7 a.m. Eastern Time. It's expected to generate life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds, and flooding in communities along hundreds of miles of Florida's western coastline.

The extremely dangerous storm is packing sustained winds of 155 miles an hour as it churns en route to southwest Florida. Hurricane, storm surge, and tropical storm warnings are in effect for dozens of cities and towns.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Chokoloskee to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

* Dry Tortugas

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

* Suwannee River southward to Flamingo

* Tampa Bay

* Lower Florida Keys from Big Pine Key westward to Key West

* Dry Tortugas

* Flagler/Volusia Line to the mouth of the St. Mary's River

* St. Johns River

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Cuban provinces of La Habana, Mayabeque, and Matanzas

* Indian Pass to the Anclote River

* All of the Florida Keys

* Flamingo to South Santee River

* Flamingo to Chokoloskee

* Lake Okeechobee

* Florida Bay

* Bimini and Grand Bahama Islands

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...

* Florida Keys from the Card Sound Bridge westward to east of Big

Pine Key

* Florida Bay

* Mouth of St. Mary's River to South Santee River


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