Storm Warnings, Watches Issued In 3 States As Hurricane Ian Targets Florida

Storm-related watches and warnings have been issued in three states after Hurricane Ian ripped Cuba and has set its sights on Florida. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) WRN Ambassadors warned of a "high" risk of erosion due to heavy rain.

Multiple storm-related warnings and watches have been issued in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. In its latest advisory report on Hurricane Ian's track, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Ian is "expected to cause life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flooding in the Florida peninsula."

As of late Tuesday evening, Hurricane Ian has logged maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. It was last located about 100 miles southwest of Naples, Florida.

As part of the efforts to keep residents of Florida's Gulf Coast safe from Hurricane Ian's onslaught, officials have urged residents to evacuate their homes and head for higher grounds, Reuters reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, more than 2.5 million Florida residents were placed under evacuation orders or related warnings. Further efforts were made to prevent traffic congestion as people moved away from the coast. Toll collections on the major highways of central Florida were suspended.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said 176 shelters were opened as of late Tuesday to cater to evacuating residents. He said more than 50 "special needs shelters" were also opened, adding that the government is expecting to open additional facilities.

The following weather warnings and watches are effective Tuesday until further notice:

Hurricane Warnings in Florida:

• Northern Lake County
• Orange
• Seminole
• Osceola
• Okeechobee
• Southern Lake County
• Pinellas
• Coastal Sarasota, including Englewood, Sarasota and Venice
• Coastal Charlotte, including Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor

Tropical Storm Warnings in Florida:

• Inland Volusia
• Coastal Volusia
• Coastal Indian River
• Coastal St. Lucie
• Coastal Martin
• Inland Northern Brevard
• Inland Indian River
• Northern Brevard Barrier Islands

Storm Surge Warnings in Florida:

• Coastal Levy including Cedar Key, Yankeetown and Fowler Bluff
• Coastal Citrus including Crystal River and Homosassa
• Coastal Hernando including Bayport and Hernando Beach
• Coastal Pasco including Holiday, Hudson and Port Richey
• Coastal Hillsborough including Westchase, Tampa and Apollo Beach
• Coastal Manatee including Anna Maria Island and Bradenton
• Coastal Lee including Sanibel, Cape Coral and Captiva

Storm Surge Watches in Georgia:

• Coastal Bryan including Fort McAllister
• Coastal Chatham including Ossabaw Island, Tybee Island and Savannah
• Coastal Liberty including Halfmoon Landing
• Coastal McIntosh including Shellman Bluff, Darien and Sapelo Island

Storm Surge Watches in South Carolina:

• Beaufort including Bluffton and Hilton Head Island
• Coastal Colleton including Wiggins, Bennetts Point and Edisto Beach
• Charleston including McClellanville and Edisto Island
• Coastal Jasper

Tropical Storm Warnings in South Carolina:

• Inland Berkeley including Saint Stephen, Moncks Corner and Goose Creek
• Tidal Berkeley including Red Bank Landing, Daniel Island and Cainhoy

Tropical Storm Watches in South Carolina:

• Inland Colleton including Smoaks, Walterboro and Cottageville
• Dorchester including Ridgeville, Saint George and Summerville

The NHC said heavy rainfall is expected to last in the Florida peninsula through Thursday. "Considerable flooding" is expected in coastal South Carolina, southeastern Georgia and northern and southern Florida.