Topline
Tampa Bay’s water started receding rapidly Wednesday morning from the shoreline as Hurricane Ian, the first major hurricane to hit Tampa in over 100 years, sucks the water out of the bay as it approaches the Florida Gulf Coast, while other areas reported heavy flooding and massive storm surges.
Tampa Bay’s water receded ahead of Hurricane Ian, as counterclockwise winds pushed water out of the … [+]
Key Facts
The hurricane’s counterclockwise winds line up with Tampa Bay’s entrance channel south of St. Petersburg, meaning the storm-force winds are pushing water out of the bay, into the ocean and onto land in a process called “reverse storm surge.”
Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa—north of Captiva Island and west of Fort Myers Wednesday afternoon, packing 155 mph maximum sustained winds, an 18-foot storm surge and heavy flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Water also started receding from shorelines of Venice and Madeira Beach shortly before 10 a.m., where the National Weather Service’s Tampa Bay branch warned against walking near the beach, writing on Twitter, “The water WILL come back.”
Reverse storm surges occur when hurricane winds push water out of a body of water, although it’s … [+]
Boats in Tampa Bay lie in the mud as water is receding from the bay ahead of Hurricane Ian.
Residents walk along the shore of a receded Tampa Bay. They’d better not stick around.
Tampa Bay: Ian is expected to make landfall Wednesday afternoon on the Florida Gulf Coast.
Further Reading
In Photos: Hurricane Ian Slams Cuba And Barrels Toward Florida—Here’s A Look At The Damage (Florida)
Hurricane Ian Live Updates: Cat 4 Storm Minutes Away From Landfall On Captiva Island (Florida)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/28/in-photos-tampa-bays-water-recedes-as-ian-nears-landfall-in-reverse-storm-surge/