In this episode, DMICMedia and I talk Hurricane Ian devasating Southwest Florida with its 150+ mph winds on September 28.
How do you forecast where a major hurricane goes? Why do storms affect Southwest Florida over the Tampa-St. Pete area? Why do these "I" storms always turn into monster hurricanes?
Despite several models showing Ian hitting near Tampa, Dennis explains why storms miss Tampa. I also remember the similar map Hurricane Charley took before hitting Southwest Florida in 2004. While Southwest Florida has been hit four times in 20 years, Tampa has not been hit since 1921.
While wind can cause great damage, storm surge is what everyone fears in a landfalling hurricane. Afterwards, The Big D explains how I could not sleep. I also explain how I got through this hurricane, and I do regret not streaming before the storm hit. A ferry would have been faster than evacuating to the Miami area.
We also discuss which American cities are the most vulnerable to another major hurricane. Dennis picks Miami with its population growth and how close many of Miami's areas are to surge. I pick Tampa due to not receiving a direct strike in 101 years, and its buildings and residents not experiencing hurricane-force winds despite several close calls during the past 20 years.