Hurricane Ian is expected to deliver torrential rain, high winds, and life-threatening storm surge this week to Florida’s west coast, and officials in the Tampa region began issuing mandatory and voluntary evacuations on Monday.
On Monday, officials in Hillsborough County issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents of Zone A and a voluntary evacuation order for residents of Zone B. At 2 p.m. on Monday, the evacuation orders will go into effect, and shelters will open to those in need.
There were evacuation orders issued on Monday ahead of Ian, which is forecast to become a Category 4 hurricane as it approaches Florida.
In the latest forecast, Hurricane Ian will cross north of Tampa Bay as a powerful Category 3 storm and will make landfall in Florida’s big bend area as a Category 1 or 2 storm.
