Intrepid weather forecasters brave full force of Hurricane Ian amid 155 mph winds

Many weather forecasters are getting out in front of the story by getting outside during Hurricane Ian as part of a storied tradition of fearless weathermen and women braving the conditions for the sake of good coverage. 

The devastating hurricane could potentially become a Category 5 storm as it pummels Florida, warned Governor Ron DeSantis, but that didn’t stop these weather forecasters from walking straight into it.

One weatherman, Jim Cantore of BNO news, was shown almost being blown away by the severe winds as he covered the storm. 

‘I can’t stand up’ Cantore said as the hurricane-force winds force him to hang to a street sign to avoid being thrown over by the wind.

A weather forecaster for CNN stands by the water in St. Petersburg, Florida just hours before Hurricane Ian began producing large, unpredictable waves

The weather became visibly worse over the hours the forecasters stayed in St. Petersburg, with rain eventually blocking out much of the newscaster 

St. Pete Beach bay in St. Petersburg, Florida is seen here as strong winds from the hurricane whip up the water

St. Pete Beach bay in St. Petersburg, Florida is seen here as strong winds from the hurricane whip up the water

Debris litters an street in a neighborhood of St. Pete Beach as the winds from Hurricane Ian arrive on September 28, 2022 in St. Petersburg

Debris litters an street in a neighborhood of St. Pete Beach as the winds from Hurricane Ian arrive on September 28, 2022 in St. Petersburg

Another reporter for CNN was placed in the city of Punta Gorda on Florida’s western shore as universities and Florida colleges were also closing their doors in an attempt to protect the students from the storm. 

Videos from the city showed winds strong enough to bowl over street signs and rain that almost flew sideways because of the wind. 

The wind is so strong that sturdy palm trees that line the streets are splintering and flying apart, just one of the many reasons Florida residents are encouraged to stay inside. 

‘Mother nature is a very fearsome adversary, please heed those evacuation warnings. You could see power outages, inland flooding, various types of tree damage from wind so be prepared for that,’ said Governor Ron DeSantis. 

Officials have warned that the storm surge could reach 18ft, with deadly winds and flooding along the state’s heavily populated Gulf Coast from Bonita Beach to the Tampa Bay region – with rainfall reaching 18 inches.

 A surge of up to 10ft of ocean water and 10 inches of rain is predicted to drench the Tampa Bay area, with as much as 15 inches in isolated areas – enough water to inundate coastal communities.

A CNN reporter in stormy Punta Gorda braves the worsening conditions of Florida's west coast as Hurricane Ian arrives

A CNN reporter in stormy Punta Gorda braves the worsening conditions of Florida’s west coast as Hurricane Ian arrives

A lone car drives on US Road 17 ahead of Hurricane Ian, in Punta Gorda, Florida on September 28, 2022 amid blinding rain

A lone car drives on US Road 17 ahead of Hurricane Ian, in Punta Gorda, Florida on September 28, 2022 amid blinding rain

A hurricane evacuation route sign in Punta Gorda is displayed as Hurricane Ian spins toward the state carrying high winds and dangerous storm surges

A hurricane evacuation route sign in Punta Gorda is displayed as Hurricane Ian spins toward the state carrying high winds and dangerous storm surges

Storm surge outside of a second story window on For Myers Beach in Florida as terrifying storm surges threaten residents' homes

Storm surge outside of a second story window on For Myers Beach in Florida as terrifying storm surges threaten residents’ homes

FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell highlighted the danger of storm surge, saying it was the agency’s ‘biggest concern.’

‘If people are told to evacuate by their local officials, please listen to them. The decision you choose to make may be the difference between life and death,’ she said.

A weather forecaster from CBS was placed in Florida’s biggest city, Miami, and stood outside by the state’s signature palm trees as rain pelted her and the news crew.

The Pentagon said 3,200 national guardsmen had been called up in Florida, with an additional 1,800 coming later.

Authorities in several municipalities, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa, were distributing free sandbags to help residents protect their homes from flooding.

Terrified residents have also been desperately digging huge trenches to redirect flood water from their homes while others have stripped supermarket shelves bare of water and essentials.

Schools in 26 districts across Florida have announced that they will be closed as more than one million homes along Florida’s west coast are at risk of storm surge damage from Hurricane Ian. 

A storm surge in Fort Myers, Florida as Hurricane Ian approaches. FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell highlighted the danger of storm surge, saying it was the agency's 'biggest concern'

A storm surge in Fort Myers, Florida as Hurricane Ian approaches. FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell highlighted the danger of storm surge, saying it was the agency’s ‘biggest concern’

A weather forecaster for CBS in Miami reports on the historic storm as 3,200 national guardsmen were sent to the state by the Pentagon

A weather forecaster for CBS in Miami reports on the historic storm as 3,200 national guardsmen were sent to the state by the Pentagon

A man walks his dog during a break of heavy rain, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Miami Beach, Florida

A man walks his dog during a break of heavy rain, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Miami Beach, Florida 

A Fox News weatherman reports from Charlotte County, where emergency response calls have been suspended due to the frightening weather

 A Fox News weatherman reports from Charlotte County, where emergency response calls have been suspended due to the frightening weather

 One weather forecaster from Fox News came to the state prepared and tracked the storm in Charlotte County while donning thick goggles and a long raincoat as he challenged the Hurricane.

Charlotte County Fire & EMS has suspended emergency response to calls for service due to hazardous weather conditions.

DeSantis told those in Collier, Charlotte, and Sarasota counties that it was ‘too late’ to leave and urged anyone still out on the roads to get to a ‘safe place as soon as possible.’

Charlotte Harbor is bracing for the brunt of the water levels and could see between 12 to 18ft of surge storm as the eyewall continues to move across the state.

Robert Ray, a weather correspondent for Fox News, gets out into the slowly flooding street in Forty Myers, where storm surges of over 10 feet have been reported

Robert Ray, a weather correspondent for Fox News, gets out into the slowly flooding street in Forty Myers, where storm surges of over 10 feet have been reported

A weather forecaster in Florida braces as the winds, which are being recorded at speeds of over 150mp, threaten to sweep them away

A weather forecaster in Florida braces as the winds, which are being recorded at speeds of over 150mp, threaten to sweep them away

Pictures show water receding from Tampa Bay, due to the movement of the hurricane, as the same phenomenon happened just before Hurricane Irma hit

Pictures show water receding from Tampa Bay, due to the movement of the hurricane, as the same phenomenon happened just before Hurricane Irma hit

Planes at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines were flipped over by a tornado as several tropical storm warnings were in place across the state

Planes at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines were flipped over by a tornado as several tropical storm warnings were in place across the state

Charlotte Harbor is bracing for the brunt of the water levels, and could see between 12ft to 18ft of surge storm as the eyewall continues to move across the state

Charlotte Harbor is bracing for the brunt of the water levels, and could see between 12ft to 18ft of surge storm as the eyewall continues to move across the state

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