What happened to Tampa Bay water?
Hurricane Ian sucked away enough of the bay to drop water levels by over 5 feet. In defiance of warnings, people took advantage of the phenomenon and shimmied down rocks near Bayshore Boulevard onto the sandy floor.
What does it mean when water recedes during a hurricane?
The phenomenon, called a blowout tide or a reverse storm surge, is an indicator that a hurricane is on its way. A blowout tide often occurs during low tide, when strong winds blowing directly off shore push the water out, exposing the bottom of the body of water, according to The Weather Channel.
Did Tampa Bay fill back up after Hurricane Ian?
Because hurricane winds blow counterclockwise, the winds at the northern edge of Ian’s circular system were blowing from east to west with such force that they pushed bay water into the Gulf of Mexico. Water eventually refilled the bay.
Is Tampa putting bleach in water?
The Water Department primarily uses chloramine (ammonia added to chlorine) to disinfect the water.
Is Tampa tap water OK to drink?
Quality tested, purity proven The region demands, and Tampa Bay Water delivers, high-quality drinking water. A continual process of sampling, testing and monitoring assures that purity and quality.
Why can’t you drink tap water after a hurricane?
Drinking contaminated water may cause illness. Residents and visitors should not assume that a water supply in a storm-affected area is safe to drink. A storm can also affect water from public water treatment plants. Even if the treatment plants are operating, storm damage and flooding can contaminate water lines.
Does water always recede before a hurricane?
The trough of the huge wave reaches shore first, before the dangerous crest is even visible (Note: The sea does not always recede in a tsunami). Generally, the sea receding is a danger sign. One way or another, the water is coming back.
How long after the water recedes does a tsunami hit?
Drawback can be a warning that a tsunami is approaching the shoreline but the problem is that the time between the sea water receding and the full tsunami moving in is usually only seconds or, at best, a few minutes.
Why did Tampa Bay lose water?
This phenomenon is sometimes called “reverse storm surge” or “negative storm surge.” This occurs when the wind direction blows water away from the coast, causing the sea level to drop. In this case, Hurricane Ian is rotating counterclockwise; its winds are pulling water away from the bay.
How deep is Tampa Bay normally?
On average, Tampa Bay measures only about 11 feet deep. However, many man-made shipping channels have been dredged to allow large ships a safe passageway. The largest shipping channel is 43 feet deep and 40 miles long.
