Florida interstates jam as residents flee Hurricane Ian
Many Floridians are using Interstate 4 to escape the wrath of Hurricane Ian. At least 2.5 million Floridians have been issued some sort of evacuation order.
I-4 Hurricane Ian evacuation traffic outside of Tampa
FOX Weather's Robert Ray encountered this scene on Interstate 4 showing east-bound traffic from Hurricane Ian evacuees on Tuesday about 40 miles outside of Tampa. More than 300,000 residents have been told to evacuate ahead of the hurricane.
Visit the FOX Weather Wire for live updates on Hurricane Ian as it barrels toward Florida. Click here for the latest forecast, evacuation orders and more.
At least 2.5 million Florida residents were ordered to evacuate as Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified into an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane early Wednesday morning.
With many Floridians hitting the road, many roads and interstates are seeing a steady and congested traffic flow.
Interstate 4, which runs west-east between Tampa and Orlando, is seeing significant traffic as residents try to evacuate.
St. Petersburg resident Peter Truslow spoke to FOX Weather as he inched his way through traffic on I-4 while on his way to the east coast of Florida on Tuesday.
![View from Florida resident Peter Trunslow, as he flees the city of Tampa.]()
Image 1 of 2View from Florida resident Peter Trunslow, as he flees the city of Tampa. (Peter Trunslow)
![View from Florida resident Peter Trunslow, as he flees the city of Tampa.]()
Image 2 of 2View from Florida resident Peter Trunslow, as he flees the city of Tampa. (Peter Trunslow)
"It's going very slowly but orderly," Truslow said, as he moved along at 12 mph.
"Tampa is very low, and this time of year, we can get water in the streets on a sunny day," he added. "So, I realized that the storm surge would be really scary is the storm comes in the wrong way."
'Going very slowly but it's orderly': Man stuck in traffic trying to evacuate St. Petersburg
Florida resident Peter Truslow lives in St. Petersburg and is evacuating to New Smyrna Beach on the east coast of Florida to try and escape Hurricane Ian impacts.
In the maps below, dark red lines around Tampa show where traffic is moving at a slow pace, and Florida Department of Transportation traffic cameras capture the evacuations.
Dark red lines indicate slow traffic around Tampa Bay.
(2022 Google)
The eastbound lane of I4 is more congested than the westbound lane heading toward Tampa.
Tampa Bay area residents and drivers fill the lanes on I-4 as they escape the high winds and flood waters of Hurricane Ian with just a day left before the storm lands in Tampa, Florida, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.
(Willie J. Allen Jr. / Orlando Sentinel / Tribune News Service / Getty Images)
Many Tampa residents are driving toward the city of Lakeland, causing the I-4 corridor to experience increased traffic.
I-4 between Tampa and Lakeland is also experiencing heavy traffic.
(2022 Google Maps)
In the FDOT image below, the Lakeland-bound lane of I-4 at McIntosh Rd. is more congested than the westbound lane heading toward Tampa.
Eastbound traffic is far more congested than the westbound traffic on I-4 at McIntosh Rd east of Tampa Bay.
(FDOT)
Heavy traffic can also be seen east of Lakeland, as Floridians make their way toward Orlando.
Lakeland, as seen in the lower left-hand corner of the map, and Orlando in the top right-hand corner. Dark red lines between the cities indicate high traffic areas.
(2022 Google Maps)
I-4 near the Hilochee Wildlife Management Area east of Lakeland, Florida is experiencing high traffic.
I-4 at mile marker 53.2.
(FDOT)
To help with the flow of traffic, many tolls across central-west Florida have been suspended.
Residents urged to evacuate as Hurricane Ian makes its way to Florida
Hurricane Ian continues to strengthen and organize as its path takes it towards Florida's West Coast. In Tampa Bay, people are being told to evacuate their beachfront property as forecasters say storm surge will create massive problems for the state's third largest metro area. FOX Weather's Nicole Valdes reports.