TAMPA, Fla. – Mandatory and voluntary evacuations totaling over 300,000 people have been ordered along Florida's west coast as Hurricane Ian rapidly intensifies into a major hurricane Tuesday morning.

Florida's Gulf Coast from Englewood to the Anclocote River, including Tampa Bay, is under a Hurricane Watch ahead of the expected wind, rain and storm surge from Hurricane Ian. Given Florida's unique coastline, the topography lends itself to the state being highly susceptible to storm-surge flooding during hurricanes.

Evacuations ordered along Florida's west coast

Several counties along Florida's west coast have already issued mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, storm surge could reach as high as 10 feet along portions of Florida's west coast, though the entire western Florida coast is susceptible to some level of storm surge.