There Were Eerie Scenes in Tampa as Ian Approached

As Hurricane Ian approached Florida before making landfall Wednesday, there were eerie scenes in Tampa and other areas where water receded, exposing the seabed. The phenomenon, in which strong winds blow water away from the coast, causing sea levels to drop, is known as a blowout tide or reverse storm surge, CBS reports. The National Weather Service's Tampa Bay office tweeted photos of the exposed seabed around Tampa's Venice Fishing Pier and warned the public to stay away from the area, reports the Guardian. "The water WILL come back," the NWS said. "Please do not attempt to walk there or any other location with receding water."

The Tampa Police Department tweeted what it said was an "incredible view" from the city's Bayshore Boulevard after water was pulled out of Tampa Bay. The department urged sightseers to stay away. The department also retweeted a video of swimmers getting into the storm surge in Fort Myers and urged Tampa residents to "be smart" and stay out of the water. (More Hurricane Ian stories.)