By Jim Stefkovich, Meteorologist, Alabama Emergency Management Agency
CLANTON – Wednesday, 7:30 am September 28, 2022
Ian is forecast to make landfall this afternoon near Port Charlotte (southeast of Tampa) as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 140 mph. This will cause devastating impacts from wind, high storm surge, flooding rains, and tornadoes due to very slow movement through the FL Peninsula today through Thursday.
Concerning Alabama:
A Gale Warning is in effect for the AL coastal waters through 6 pm Thursday with northerly winds of 25-35 mph and gusts to 45 mph.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for most of the state through this afternoon with northerly winds from 10-20 mph and with gusts up to 30 mph. This will likely be extended into at least Thursday. The combination of gusty winds and low relative humidity will result in increased fire danger. Do not do any outdoor burning.
A very tight rainfall gradient will occur with Ian and total rainfall Friday through Saturday will range from around 1 inch along the AL/GA state line to nothing from I-65 and areas westward.
