Ian just shy of a Category 5 hurricane as it nears Florida
Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified off Florida's southwest coast Wednesday, gaining top winds of 155 mph. Forecasters said the Fort Myers area could be inundated by a storm surge of up to 18 feet.
Updated September 28, 2022 at 10:57 AM ET
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified as it neared landfall along Florida's southwest coast Wednesday morning, gaining top winds of 155 mph, just shy of the most dangerous Category 5 status. Damaging winds and rain lashed the state, and forecasters said the heavily populated Fort Myers area could be inundated by a storm surge of up to 18 feet.
Air Force hurricane hunters confirmed Ian gained strength over warm Gulf of after battering Cuba, bringing down and leaving the entire island without power. Ian was centered about 60 miles west-southwest of Naples at 10 a.m., swirling toward the coast at 10 mph.
