Ian to Become Category 4 Hurricane, DeSantis Expands State of Emergency

Latest Update: 9/30/22 8:57 pm EDT – Disney World Theme Parks Return to Normal Operation Saturday

Published: 9/24/22 5:21 pm EDT
Previous Update: 9/24/22 11:26 pm EDT – Ian to Become Hurricane Sunday, Biden Cancels Disney World Visit
Previous Updates 9/25/22:
8:45 am EDT – Ian Still Tropical Storm, Still Moving West
11:45 am EDT – Path to Panhandle Narrows, Disney World Still at Risk
5:41 pm EDT – TS Ian Still Low and Slow, But Some Tracks Stay Over Disney World
11:33 pm EDT – Topical Storm Ian Building Strength, Turning Closer to Disney World
Previous Updates: 9/26/22
9:00 am EDT – Hurricane Ian Forms in Caribbean – Disney World Weekly Forecast
11:39 am EDT – Hurricane Ian Strengthens, Disney World Under Tropical Storm Watch
5:34 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Now Category 2, Could Still Hit Disney World
11:25 pm EDT – Ian Expected to Become Major Hurricane, Disney Theme Parks Still Opening
Previous Updates: 9/27/22
8:45 am EDT – Ian Now a Category 3, Disney World Still Open Today
11:34 am EDT – Ian Still Cat 3, Disney World Under Hurricane Watch
5:43 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Eyes Orlando, Disney World Confirms Multi-Day Park Closure
11:27 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Set to Make Landfall, Still Locked on Disney World Area
Previous Updates: 9/28/22
8:43 am EDT – Hurricane Ian Nearing Cat 5 Strength – Disney World Weather Update
12:38 pm EDT – Disney World Guests Hunker Down as Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall
6:02 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall, Passing Through Disney World Area Tonight
11:30 pm EDT – Storm Center Moves into Disney World County
Previous Updates: 9/29/22
9:03 am EDT – VIDEO: Record Flooding Hits Central Florida — Disney World Status Update
12:20 pm EDT – Ian Leaving Florida, But Storm Still Rages in Orlando Area
7:10 pm EDT – Disney World, Disney Cruise Line Assess Damage Reopening Plans
Previous Updates: 9/30/22
8:47 am EDT – Storm has Passed – Disney World, Universal, MCO Begin Reopening
12:34 pm EDT – Post-Storm Update: Crowds Return to Parks, Disney World Weekend Weather Forecast

 

The National Hurricane Center issued its 5:00 pm full advisory. Tropical Storm Ian is still moving west at 16mph and still has not made its turn north. It is now expected to go completely miss Cuba when it turns sometime Sunday or Monday, and grow to a Category 4 Hurricane before making landfall in Florida.

5pm #Ian advisory has just been issued; Here's a look… pic.twitter.com/554byhMuHL

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 24, 2022

Projected tracks are showing the center of Tropical Storm Ian veering further away from Central Florida, but there is still a lot of uncertainty, and neither Walt Disney World Resort nor Disney Cruise Line is out of the woods yet.

Ahead of the released developments, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis extended his State of Emergency to every county in the State and encouraged all Floridians to monitor the storm as it progresses. Despite the more-western track, more of the Sunshine State is still within the “Cone of Uncertainty.”

Today, I extended the State of Emergency for Tropical Storm Ian to all 67 counties in Florida.

I encourage all Floridians to continue to monitor the storm and listen to local officials. https://t.co/0jNTYhtFlh

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 24, 2022

At this time, Tropical Storm Ian is still very much a tropical storm, recording sustained winds of 45 mph. But, it is still expected to become a hurricane before sunrise Monday morning. The delay in the turn has given it a track that keeps it out over the warm water of the Western Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, which will allow it to grow even more. However, it is still expected to weaken to a Category 2 by Thursday. Heavy rainfall and storm surge risk are now expected for both Florida’s west coast and the Panhandle.

The storm’s path takes it dangerously close to The Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico, leaving Disney Cruise Line adventures in uncertainty.

It is also still unclear what level of Tropical Storm or Hurricane force conditions can be expected in Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and the rest of Central Florida.

All current or would-be Disney Guests should continue to stay vigilant for updates from Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Orlando International Airport, and any airlines involved in your vacation. We want to reiterate, though, that a Walt Disney World Resort hotel is one of the safest and most magical places in Florida to wait out any level of hurricane.

Convection really bubbling on the north side of #Ian currently. Satellite presentation starting to look better. With continuous recon, let’s hope we can finally get the models in agreement. The Florida impacts are still very low in confidence- model spread 200 miles or so… pic.twitter.com/xOYXFXizyK

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 24, 2022

There is still no official word from Disney World or Disney Cruise Line regarding any change in operations due to Tropical Storm Ian.

Click here to read the National Hurricane Center’s full advisory.

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Tropical Storm Ian and how it could affect your Disney vacation as more developments come to light.

Previous Coverage

• Tropical Weather Update: Path Moves Slightly West, Cape Canaveral Begins Preparations
• Tropical Storm Ian Grows, Disney World County Starts Storm Prep
• Tropical Storm Ian Forms, Category 2 Hurricane Now Expected to Reach Disney World Area
• Tropical Weather Update: DeSantis Declares State of Emergency, MCO Issues Update for Travelers
• Tropical Weather Update: Hurricane Likely to Hit Florida as Category 3
• Storm Update: Hurricane Likely to Form, Head for Florida
• Going to Disney World Next Week? Might Want to Start Watching the Weather