Video and photos taken on the western coast of Florida show the water in the bay was completely dry before the storm.
Water was pushed away from the shore and into the gulf by Ian's strong winds.
The experts warned that the negative storm surge is only a temporary phenomenon and that the water will return to normal levels.
"Don't go out there." National Weather Service Director Ken Graham spoke at a news conference. It's not a good idea to look at the water and collect shells even if the water is not as high as it used to be. When the winds go down, the water comes back in and can be very dangerous.
The Division of Emergency Management warned that the water could be life threatening.
The National Weather Service predicts a storm surge of up to six feet in the low-lying areas of the bay area.
9/28 11am EDT: Eyewall of #Ian moving onshore! Catastrophic storm surge along with destructive waves are expected along the southwest Florida coast from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor. Residents should urgently follow evacuation orders in effect. pic.twitter.com/a82s6OGus6
— NHC Storm Surge (@NHC_Surge) September 28, 2022
Some areas on the coast are at risk of a surge of up to 18 feet. According to Graham, the Category 4 Hurricane will dump up to five inches of rain per hour as it crosses the state.
Graham said that this is going to be a storm that will be talked about for a long time.
A man walks through the mudflats as the tide comes in from the bay. Ian got close to Category 5 strength. The picture was taken by Ryan Smith.
The highest risk to human life is created by the water from the storm. She warned of the flood dangers after the storm passes.
A moving vehicle can only be carried away by a small amount of water. She warned against using a generator indoors and urged people to move to higher ground if the water is rising around them.
Ian is going to be a very dangerous and life threatening storm for the next few days.
The article was first published on HuffPost.
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