Travel & RV Weather Forecast Wednesday 28 September (includes Hurricane Ian 7 a.m. ET update)

** Heads Up ** RVers still in the greater Ft Myers area, SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. Ian is intensifying rapidly with winds of 155 mph (nearly Category 5). Storm surge will be 12-16 feet around Ft. Myers and Charlotte Bay. Ian will make landfall late this afternoon around the Ft Myers area, then move northeast across the Florida Peninsula to Daytona Beach. There will be catastrophic impacts to infrastructure on parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast, particularly between Sarasota to Naples. Major river flooding expected in northern and central Florida, including the St. Johns River and Jacksonville. Flooding and tropical storm force winds are likely along much of the east coast of Florida, coastal Georgia and coastal South Carolina south of Myrtle Beach. Details under the ‘Eastern’ heading of this forecast.

Excessive heat today for parts of Southern California.
Lake effect rains along the Ohio and Pennsylvania shorelines may produce flash flooding this morning.

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Pacific:

— Southeast OR; northeast CA and adjacent northwest NV: Strong winds this afternoon. Gusts 30-40 mph. US-395 impacted.

— Parts of southern CA: Excessive Heat Warnings through this evening. High temperatures 95-105 deg F. Hottest temperatures in the interior deserts, coolest near the coast. I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, US-101 impacted.

Mountain:

— No significant weather impacts to RV travel today or Thursday.

Central:

— No significant weather impacts to RV travel today or Thursday.

Eastern:

— Northeast OH; northwest PA: Flood watches continue through this morning for excessive lake effect rainfall. I-79, I-90 potentially impacted.

— (based on 7 a.m. NHC Advisory) Hurricane Ian is nearly a Category 5 storm, with sustained winds of 155 mph. Ian is 65 miles west-southwest of Naples, moving to the north-northeast. Ian will make landfall as a catastrophic storm near Ft. Myers late this afternoon, then move to the northeast across the Florida Peninsula to near Daytona Beach by Thursday evening. Ian will emerge in the Atlantic off the northeast Florida coast as a tropical storm before turning back to the northwest and going inland just south of Charleston SC Friday afternoon.

The National Hurricane Center has issued numerous Warnings and Watches for Florida, associated with Ian.  All of the Florida Peninsula, from Jacksonville clockwise to Panama City, is under a Tropical Storm or Hurricane Warning.  Hurricane Warnings are in effect from north of Tampa Bay southward to Everglades City.  A Storm Surge Warning is in effect on the west coast from Cedar Key to the Everglades.  There is also a Storm Surge Warning along the northeast FL coast, and along the St. Johns River.

	As Ian approaches the Florida Peninsula, there will also be the threat of (mostly) short-lived, quick spin-up tornadoes.  Most of the Florida Peninsula has some risk of tornadoes today.  The greatest risk is along the east coast, centered around Daytona Beach.  

	Tropical Storm force winds are already occurring along the west coast .  The greatest risk for sustained hurricane force winds is from Tampa Bay to Everglades City.  Destructive winds, at a force you would not want to experience in your RV, may be experienced from Cedar Key southward to the Everglades.   On the east coast, there is a significant chance of destructive wind from Port St. Lucie northwards to Daytona Beach.

	Damage from a combination of storm surge and extreme winds between Naples and Sarasota will likely be catastrophic, and not survivable if you are in an RV or mobile home.  

	The entire west coast of Florida south of Cedar Key will see a minimum of 3 feet of storm surge.  Expect storm surge of 8-12 feet from south of Tampa Bay to south of Ft Myers, including 12-16 feet of surge in Charlotte Bay.  Tampa Bay will likely see 4-6 feet of storm surge.  There is also 3-6 feet of storm surge expected on the northeast FL coast, southeast GA, and along the St. Johns River.  

	Expect 10-15 or more inches of rain from Tampa Bay to Daytona Beach.  As this rain runs into the major rivers, the storm surge and on-shore winds will prevent the rivers from draining normally into the ocean.  There is a potential for major river flooding in Jacksonville and communities along the St. Johns river.  Move away from the rivers and find higher ground.  Coastal Georgia and southern coastal South Carolina may also be subject to flooding. 

	Expect infrastructure impacted by the hurricane, not only along the immediate coast, but also inland due to flooding, to be disrupted for days or even weeks.  If you are still in your RV along the west coast of Florida from Tampa Bay southwards for whatever reason, seek shelter from wind and water now.   If you are on the east coast of Florida - move away from rivers or low lying areas that may flood from a combination of fresh water flooding and/or storm surge.  Please follow the directions of your county emergency management officials.