CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Major Hurricane Ian made landfall southwest of La Coloma in Cuba at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 125 mph at a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
On Wednesday morning Ian is a high end Category 4, Major Hurricane in the SE Gulf of Mexico. 155 mph winds; gusting up to 190 mph. Ian is moving NNE at 10mph. Landfall is expected between Tampa and Ft. Myers.
Because Hurricane Ian will be such a large storm while it's in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, Coastal Bend beaches will receive some 'side-effects' from the storm. Expect larger, longer period waves to move in Wednesday through Friday. The day for peak wave activity looks like Thursday.
The larger, longer period swells will lead to a high risk for rip currents Wednesday through Friday; maybe into the weekend. It'll also translate to minor coastal flooding; mainly Thursday and Friday.
Low tide will be late in the morning. Tides will rise throughout the day with high tide in the evening.
The City of Corpus Christi said the risk of beach access roads being inundated with water may cause the closure of some roads. Message boards will be posted to update residents on beach and water conditions.
Trash cans and lifeguard stands have been removed from gulf beaches.
City staff said they will monitor the Packery Channel jetty gate for possible closure due to dangerous wave action. Visitors should observe and follow the flag warning system to stay updated about surf and rip current conditions.
Water levels on Corpus Christi Bay will be higher than normal, however, wave heights and intensity are not forecasted to be above normal.
Hurricane Ian is the only storm in the Tropical Atlantic/Caribbean/Gulf. The tropical wave in the Atlantic Basin has a high probability to develop over the next 5 days, but is not a threat to Texas.