Tampa Bay emptied before Hurricane Irma hit

Hours before Tampa took the worst of Hurricane Irma, water levels dropped so much in Tampa Bay, residents were able to walk on the bay floor. 

This was as winds moved off shore, blowing the water from Tampa Bay into the Gulf of Mexico. As winds move counter-clockwise, the winds on Tampa Bay will shift on shore. 

Once the winds shift on shore, Tampa is expected to see a storm surge of up to 8 feet.