Where is Hurricane Ian going? Not Mississippi, forecasters say

Hurricane season is on the downhill slope with none affect on Mississippi up to now, however what’s going to occur within the Magnolia State when Hurricane Ian makes landfall Wednesday?

Not a lot, in response to the Nationwide Climate Service in Jackson. In reality, climate service officers aren’t anticipating any affect in any respect.

“We’re just about out of the best way of any sort of affect,” mentioned NWS Meteorologist Ashlyn Jackson.

The state will stay sunny and clear — not a drop of rain anticipated — into the subsequent week, with highs within the low 80s and higher 70s and lows within the higher 50s to low 60s forecast for the subsequent seven days.

In the meantime in Florida, Ian is anticipated to make landfall round 8 p.m. Wednesday in Sarasota County — farther south than earlier predictions however nonetheless threatening statewide devastation, authorities mentioned Tuesday.

Stay updates:Hurricane Ian monitor shifts south to Sarasota, however all of Florida faces ‘important’ impacts:

Tourism affect:Disney World, Busch Gardens announce closures forward of Hurricane Ian’s arrival in Florida

Florida emergency administration officers have issued obligatory evacuations in quite a few areas because the Nationwide Hurricane Heart expanded the hurricane warning alongside greater than 150 miles of the state’s Gulf Coast. Energy outages additionally could be anticipated statewide.

Faculties and companies introduced closures starting Monday. Residents boarded up home windows and packed up their belongings to make the trek northward and out of hurt’s method.

“We’re actually beginning to lose time for individuals to take motion,” mentioned Jamie Rhome, appearing director for the Nationwide Hurricane Heart, throughout a NHC briefing Tuesday. “You’ve got obtained right this moment to make your remaining preparations.”

Rhome mentioned the wind area is increasing, rising the scale of the hurricane. Along with the catastrophic winds and rain anticipated from Ian, storm surge and flooding may pose different life-threatening risks to Floridians.

“Greater storms produce extra storm surge,” Rhome mentioned.

Ian slammed into Cuba earlier Tuesday, a Class 3 monster pounding the island with 125-mph winds. Now approaching Florida, Ian’s shift eastward has put the town of Venice within the storm’s crosshairs someday Wednesday, though excessive winds and storm surge are nonetheless anticipated farther north into the beforehand focused Tampa Bay area, Florida Emergency Administration Director Kevin Guthrie mentioned. 

USA TODAY reporter John Bacon contributed to this story.

Do you might have a narrative to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Comply with her on Twitter @licibev or Fb at fb.com/licibeveridge.