Topical Storm Ian Building Strength, Turning Closer to Disney World

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

Published: 9/25/22 11:33 pm EDT
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 released its latest advisory at 11:00 pm tonight, and Ian is prime to become a hurricane overnight. The storm recorded sustained winds of 65 mph, and it is expected to grow rapidly through Monday and Tuesday. It needs to record sustained winds of at least 75 mph in order to become a hurricane.

The latest consensus appears to put an end to the hopes that Ian was going to continue its push to the west and puts Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and the rest of Central Florida back in a more central position within the “Cone of Uncertainty.”

11pm advisory for #Ian is in; Here's a look. More on this on WESH 2 News at 11! pic.twitter.com/iuTsOStOwu

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 26, 2022

According to the NHC,

“At 1100 PM EDT (0300 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Ian was located near latitude 17.3 North, longitude 81.4 West. Ian is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h). A turn toward the north-northwest is expected on Monday followed by a northward motion on Tuesday with a slightly slower forward speed… Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast tonight, followed by more rapid strengthening on Monday and Tuesday. Ian is forecast to become a hurricane by early Monday and a major hurricane on Tuesday.”

There is a very real threat that a major hurricane could hit the Tampa Bay area–which is just a 90-minute car ride away from the Theme Park Capital–by Wednesday night. Tropical Storm force winds should be expected to arrive in Central Florida by Tuesday night. Tropical Storm watches are now in effect for the southwest coast of Florida. The State of Emergency remains in effect.

There is still no official word from Walt Disney World Resort or Disney Cruise Line regarding any changes in operation due to this storm. All readers currently at Walt Disney World and cannot find a flight out of the Sunshine State should rest easy. You are in the safest place you can be during a hurricane. Disney World has an established and tested hurricane policy in place to ensure all of its Guests are kept safe, fed, hydrated, warm, and comfortable. They have also been known to provide extra doses of magic to keep morale high such as extra special meet ‘n greets in hotel lobbies. If you were scheduled to fly down and begin your Walt Disney World vacation this week, we advise that you check with the Walt Disney Travel Company or your authorized Disney Vacation travel planner regarding your cancelation and rescheduling options.

The same advice goes for anyone scheduled to sail on a Disney Cruise Line ship out of Port Canaveral or Miami, as a Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for parts of Miami-Dade County.

There is still time to prepare for #Ian tomorrow and possibly the first half of Tuesday, but conditions could deteriorate as early as Tuesday evening. Weather conditions could then continue to worsen by Wednesday and Thursday as Ian approaches the #Florida peninsula. pic.twitter.com/Ol72n8J1yC

— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) September 26, 2022

All readers who will be staying in Central Florida for the entire week should be prepared for lots of wind and lots of rain. WESH2 is projecting the area to get 10-15 inches of rain over the next seven days, and Tropical Storm conditions could last from Tuesday night through Thursday. The risk of flooding is going to be high, and there will also be a risk of tornados developing in the area. But things are expected to calm down by the weekend.

We at Disney Fanatic will be back with a morning report containing the NHC’s 8:00 am advisory as well as the weekly weather forecast for Central Florida.

Previous Coverage

• TS Ian Still Low and Slow, But Some Tracks Stay Over Disney World
• Path to Panhandle Narrows, Disney World Still at Risk
•  Ian Still Tropical Storm, Still Moving West
• Ian to Become Hurricane Sunday, Biden Cancels Disney World Visit
• Ian to Become Category 4 Hurricane, DeSantis Expands State of Emergency
• 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
• DeSantis Declares State of Emergency, MCO Issues Update for Travelers
• Hurricane Likely to Hit Florida as Category 3
• Hurricane Likely to Form, Head for Florida
• Going to Disney World Next Week? Might Want to Start Watching the Weather