Storm Chasers Withstand 150 MPH Sustained Winds in Southwest Florida

Hurricane Ian made landfall in near Cayo Costa in south Florida as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph on Wednesday afternoon, September 28, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed.

Video from Joel Franco shows storm chasers and weather reporters on the street in Punta Gorda as the storm blew through. At one point, a quick-moving tree branch trips up meteorologist Jim Cantore.

The National Weather Service warned of the likelihood of “catastrophic” storm surge and flooding in parts of southwest Florida. Credit: Joel Franco via Storyful

Video transcript

- Whoa.

[WIND WHIPPING]

Oh shit.

Whoa.

You're still recording, right?

It is happening. Jim is all the way over there. There's flying debris, alarm going off in the building that we're standing next to. This, Hurricane Ian's full fury unleashed right now. Got to watch out for storm surge later on.

- We should be on the upper--