#17,026
A U.S. landfall is still 4 or 5 days away - and the projected path could still shift left or right by a hundred miles or more - but right now everyone in Florida should be making plans for an unwelcome visitor the middle of next week.
Conditions are are favorable for T.S. Ian to become a major hurricane once it gets over the very warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and many areas along Florida's west coast are low lying, and vulnerable to storm surge.
The major computer forecast models (GFS, EURO, CMC, etc.) are not in full agreement on where this storm goes, so you'll want to check the latest NHC updates often.
Full updates are released at 11 am, 5 pm, 11 pm and 5 am, with intermediate updates at 8 am, 2 pm, 8 pm and 2 am.
Anyone in the projected path of this storm should be keeping close tabs on the forecast, and reviewing their hurricane (and/or evacuation) plans this weekend (see #NatlPrep: When Evacuation Is The Better Part of Valor).
Since I live in a mandatory evacuation area, I've already discussed my `bug out' plans with my Disaster Buddy (see In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?), but I won't make the decision to pack the car, and get out, until Monday night.As grim as evacuating can be, I'm very thankful I have a place to go.
For now, the National Hurricane Center has issued the following Key Messages for those living in the path of this storm.
