This afternoon, Governor Ron DeSantis issued updates on Hurricane Ian at the State Emergency Operations Center with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie.
Hurricane Ian strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane this evening and continues to rapidly intensify ahead of its impact to the State of Florida later this week. Tropical-storm force winds may begin as soon as tonight in the Florida Keys and south Florida.
Ian is forecast to become a major hurricane tonight and remain a major Hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.
Storm surge has the potential to impact much of Florida’s west coast, with the highest risk from Ft. Myers to the Tampa Bay region.
In the news: Hurricane Ian Now Category 2 As It Barrels Toward Florida
Current Watches and Warnings in Effect:
- A Hurricane Warning has been issued for Englewood to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay.
- A Hurricane Watch has been issued from the Anclote River to the Suwannee River.
- Tropical Storm Watches have been issued from the Suwannee River to Indian Pass, and from Jupiter Inlet to Altamaha Sound.
- Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the Lower Keys (from the 7 Mile Bridge westward to Key West), and from Englewood southward to Flamingo.
- A Storm Surge Warning has been issued from the Anclote River southward to Flamingo, including Tampa Bay.
- Storm Surge Watches are in effect for the Florida Keys and mainland Monroe County, as well as far southern Miami-Dade, Collier, the Tampa Bay area, eastern Clay and Putnam counties, and the coastal areas of Charlotte, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns and Volusia counties.
- Anclote River to Longboat Key including Tampa Bay… 5-10 ft
- Suwanee River to Anclote River… 5-8 ft
- Longboat Key to Englewood… 5-8 ft
- Englewood to Bonita Beach, FL… 4-7 ft
- Bonita Beach to East Cape Sable, FL… 3-5 ft
- Flagler/Volusia County Line to Altamaha Sound, including the St. Johns River… 2-4 ft
- East Cape Sable to Card Sound Bridge, including Florida Bay…2-4 ft
- Aucilla River to Suwannee River… 2-4 ft
- Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas… 2-4 ft
- Indian Pass to Aucilla River… 1-3 ft
Florida Department of Education (DOE)
- The Florida Department of Education is consistently updating their website with county school closures, as well as State University System and Florida College System Closures.
K12 School Closures
- Charlotte County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Citrus County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Collier County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
- DeSoto County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Dixie County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- Gilchrist County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- Glades County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Hardee County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
- Hernando County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- Hillsborough County Schools will be closed Monday, September 26 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Lake County Schools will have early dismissal on Tuesday, September 27 and will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- Lee County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
- Levy County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Manatee County Schools will be closed starting Tuesday, September 27, 2022; they do not have a reopening date at this time.
- Marion County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Monroe County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
- Okeechobee County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
- Osceola County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Pasco County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- Pinellas County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- Polk County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
- Putnam County Schools will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- Sarasota County Schools will be closed Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
- Sumter County Schools will have early dismissal on Tuesday, September 27 and will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
Florida College System Closures
- College of Central Florida will be closed Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Hillsborough Community College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Florida SouthWestern State College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.
- Pasco-Hernando State College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- St. Petersburg College will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- State College of Florida will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
State University Closures
- Florida A&M University will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- Florida Gulf Coast University will be closed Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
- Florida State University will be closed Tuesday, September 27 through Friday, September 30, 2022. (Tallahassee & Panama City)
- New College of Florida classes will be canceled Monday, September 26 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- University of Central Florida will be closed Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30, 2022.
- University of South Florida classes will be canceled Monday, September 26 through Thursday, September 29, 2022. Campuses will be closed starting Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
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