TAMPA, Fla. — Water in Tampa Bay receded Wednesday morning as Ian made its approach.
The scene also was viewed in Gulfport, Sunset Beach in Treasure Island and as far as in Venice.
ＤＯＷＮ ＢＹ ＴＨＥ ＢＡＹ 🌊: Check out this 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 view of #BayshoreBlvd taken by one our TampaPD Lieutenants! The water has receded, a clear sign that #hurricaneian is drawing near. 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥: Evacuations are still in effect for Zones A and B #YourTampaPD pic.twitter.com/fLhTkNuHtz
— TampaPD (@TampaPD) September 28, 2022
Much like Irma did in 2017, Hurricane Ian is impacting Tampa Bay hours before making landfall.
The storm has caused the waters of Tampa Bay to recede, leaving the waterway along Bayshore Boulevard practically dry.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the phenomenon is the opposite if storm surge:
"Storm surge is where strong winds are pushing the water towards the shore. But you can imagine that same force is pushing water away from the shoreline. If the wind is blowing offshore, it blows water away from land."
#HurricaneIan has pushed water away from shore on Sunset Beach in #MyTreasureIsland. pic.twitter.com/WP1qF7DrWl
— Treasure Island, FL (@TresIslandFL) September 28, 2022
The National Weather Service says that the water will come back, but advises residents not to walk on any location with receding water.
Here are a few pictures of the receding water at Venice. IMPORTANT NOTE: The water WILL come back. Please do not attempt to walk there or any other location with receding water. https://t.co/frMvkCrvBP
— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) September 28, 2022