Hurricane Ian’s eye will likely pass over part of Manatee County. What to know.
The eye of Hurricane Ian is now forecast to pass directly over eastern Manatee County Wednesday evening as the storm makes a northwest inland cut across Florida.
Hurricane Ian made landfall in Cayo Costa, six miles north of Captiva Island near Fort Myers at 3:10 p.m.
The National Hurricane Center said Ian’s sustained winds had dropped slightly to 150 mph, moving north-northeast at 9 mph.
Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay reported a 72 mile per hour gust in Bradenton.
The National Hurricane Center’s online map shows the center of storm is forecast to move over the southeast corner Manatee County near Myakka City around 8 p.m. before moving slowly towards Hardee and Polk counties.
The storm is also expected to stay intact and cross over to the east coast as a hurricane.
Ian is also forecast to slow down to a crawl and soak the state with heavy rain and storm surge.
Danny Cacchiotti, former Myakka City Fire Control District Chief, was at the emergency shelter at Myakka River Elementary School Wednesday afternoon, where he and his wife Darlene checked in to weather the storm.
Cacchiotti described “scary” levels of wind and the startling sight of large trees bending back and forth as Ian’s bands whipped the across the area.
“This is the worst I’ve seen,” Cacchiotti said as he looked out at the storm’s arrival from under an awning. Heavy wind was audible in the background as his cell phone service cut in an out.
By Friday morning, Manatee County could see a total of 12 to 13 inches of rain, with some isolated areas possibly seeing up to 20 inches of rain, the weather service said.
Cacchiotti said the area has already had a lot of rain over the last several weeks, so Ian’s expected downpour could spell bad news for those who live along the Myakka River.
A hurricane warning, tornado watch and flood watch remain in effect through at least Thursday night.
Forecasters expect Ian’s stormy conditions over Manatee County will start to dissipate Thursday night and Friday.
Cacchiotti was confident that the community would come together to rebuild after the storm.
“People in the community come together, and they help out, without a doubt,” Cacchiotti said.
