Hurricane Ian Nears Florida, with High-Value Projects in Path

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Hurricane Ian is making its way northward through the Gulf of Mexico, and is about to become the first major hurricane to hit the U.S. this fall. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned throughout Monday that Ian would strengthen rapidly before it is anticipated to hit Florida on Wednesday, with Florida's west coast and Panhandle areas among those most likely to see a dangerous storm surge, high winds and heavy rainfall. A Tropical Storm Watch for southernmost Florida, from Chokoloskee down to the Keys, was in effect as of mid-Monday.

The NHC and other forecasters warn Ian could be a major hurricane--with winds of 111 miles per hour or more--by the time it makes landfall, currently projected for early Wednesday. Forecasters also warned Ian's initial effects could be felt by Floridians as early as Tuesday.

"Widespread considerable flash and urban flooding and prolonged significant river flooding impacts are likely mid-to-late week in central Florida, given already-saturated conditions," the NHC said in a public advisory early Monday. "Flash and urban flooding impacts are also possible, with rainfall across the Florida Keys and the Florida peninsula through mid-week."

Industrial Info is keeping track of Hurricane Ian and the many industrial plants and projects in its path with its Disaster Impact Tracker tool. Subscribers can click here to access the tool, which tracks active and potential weather-related events worldwide, and click here for a tutorial video.

Click on the image at right for a map of Ian's projected path, from Industrial Info's Disaster Impact Tracker tool.

Industrial Info is tracking about $31.7 billion worth of active projects in Florida, including more than $12.5 billion worth already under construction. These include three of the state's highest-valued power-generation projects, all currently set for completion before the end of the year:

• Seminole Electric Cooperative Incorporated's (Tampa, Florida) addition of a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle (NGCC) unit at its generating station in Palatka; for details, see Industrial Info's project report
• Tampa Electric Company's (Tampa) conversion of a coal-fired unit to an NGCC unit in Apollo Beach; for details, see project report
• Duke Energy Corporation's (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina) Charlie Creek Solar Project in Wauchula; for details, see project report

Each of these projects was located in an area among those most likely to be affected by Ian. It is not yet clear how their schedules would be affected. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for a full list of projects under construction across Florida.

Before hitting Florida, Ian is expected to make landfall in western Cuba early Tuesday, with areas west of Havana most likely to be affected by winds as high as 80 miles per hour. Industrial Info is tracking nearly $4.9 billion worth of active projects across Cuba, including Nestle S.A.'s (Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland) construction of a snacks and beverages plant in Mariel, La Habana, about 32 miles west of Havana. Subscribers can learn more in a detailed project report, and can click here for a full list of active capital-spending projects across Cuba.

In the days following its impact in Florida, Ian is forecast to hit southern Georgia and likely easternmost Alabama, although it will have weakened to tropical storm status. Forecasters in the area believe it could reduce to a tropical depression by the weekend.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project Database can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).