Hurricane Ian has proven to be one of the most catastrophic storms in United States history. The massive Category 4 storm reached Florida’s southwestern coast on Wednesday, September 28. By Thursday, Hurricane Ian had effectively torn through much of the state, leaving millions stranded without power. Although city officials and emergency responders are still working toward assessing the damage, many are already calling this the largest national disaster in Florida history.
Hurricane Ian Hit Florida’s Gulf Coast With 150 mph Winds
On September 27, 2022, Hurricane Ian began its assault on the state of Florida, beginning with the state’s Gulf Coast. This powerful system came ashore near Cayo Coast, just West of Fort Myers, around 3 pm ET Wednesday. At its height, the storm lashed parts of Florida with winds reaching 150 mph. Technically, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, Hurricane Ian was a Category 4 since winds in this category range between 130-156 mph. However, Hurricane Ian was only 7 mph shy of landing as a Category 5, the highest on the scale. Both Category 4 and 5 hurricanes inflict “catastrophic damage,” as reported by the hurricane scale. The scale also advises that Category 4 hurricanes cause many to endure power outages for weeks to months and leave most of the area uninhabitable for a similar duration of time.
The intense winds effortlessly downed power lines, blew away stop signs, and uprooted trees while cutting power for nearly 2 million residents without power.
Record-Breaking Rainfall
High-speed winds were not the only concern for Floridians, as the state experienced torrential downpours and flooding. Once the storm moved inland from the coast, unrelenting record-breaking rainfall contributed to flooding that pushed the hardest-hit parts of Florida underwater. Hurricane Ian bombarded residents with over 12 inches of rainfall in just 12 to 24 hours from Port Charlotte to Orlando. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that some of the most-affected areas saw 1-in-1,000-year rainfall. A 1,000-year rainfall event is so enormous that it only occurs once every thousand years.
Radar estimates indicate that several parts of Florida saw thousand-year rainfall, including:
- Placida
- Lake Wales
- Winter Park
- North Port
- Myakka City
Scientists suggest that climate change contributed to Hurricane Ian’s astounding amount of rainfall. While climate change did not necessarily cause the storm, it did cause it to be approximately 10% wetter. It also may have made the storm stronger. Hurricane Ian’s wind speeds increased by 35 mph in under three hours, upgrading it from a Category 3 to a Category 4 storm. This “rapid intensification” is of significant concern for scientists as rising ocean temperatures provide fuel and greater opportunity for hurricanes to strengthen very quickly.
Furthermore, Hurricane Ian produced sizable storm surges on Florida’s coast. A storm surge is an abnormal rise in water generated by a storm that can result in severe flooding for coastal communities. Residents experienced storm surges they had never seen before and deemed Hurricane Ian a “totally different hurricane.” Storm surges peaked 2 feet above record level on Wednesday in Naples. Coastal residents feel the storm surges may have surpassed those of Hurricane Irma back in 2017, with some areas experiencing surges at 12 feet.
The rainfall triggered numerous flash flood emergencies and river flooding that swept across the state. Several bridges and streets closed in the wake of the disastrous flooding, and homes were left submerged. Emergency services have been inundated with calls from those trapped due to flooding that quickly swallowed homes, condominiums, and apartment complexes.
Death Toll at 21 but Expected to Increase
As of Friday morning, the death toll has sadly climbed to 21. Even though the exact death toll remains unclear, President Biden stated the loss of life could be “substantial.” Charlotte, Sarasota, and Volusia are among Florida counties that have reported multiple deaths. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue teams sift through the rubble and comb the flooded streets. Although the state has not released the cause of death for every single victim, car accidents and drowning account for many. Hurricane Ian already claimed the lives of two individuals in Cuba before arriving in Florida.
While Florida attempts to analyze the full scope of the storm’s impact and begin recovery efforts, meteorologists expect Hurricane Ian to reach the coast of South Carolina by 3 pm to 4 pm ET on Friday.