Hurricane Ian is expected to strengthen in the coming 24 hours and is quickly approaching a Category 4 designation.
As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane Ian has reached maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, with higher gusts. The hurricane is currently classified as category 3.
Ian is currently scheduled to pass west of the Florida Keys later tonight, and is slowly approaching Florida’s west coast.
Hurricane conditions are expected along the west coast as early as tomorrow morning, with tropical storm conditions likely beginning tonight.
As it stands, the NHC predicts that Central and Northeast Florida may receive anywhere from 12 and up to 24 inches of rainfall as a result of the storm. Widespread, catastrophic flash, urban, and river flooding is expected across central and west Florida beginning tomorrow.
The city of Orlando announced on Tuesday that multiple city-wide services would be closed in preparation for the hurricane, which is the first major storm of the season.
Multiple counties, including Seminole, Osceola, Orange, Flagler, and Brevard, have closed classes through the rest of the week in anticipation.