Water receded out of Tampa Bay during Hurricane Ian. But it will come back – and it will be dangerous.

As Hurricane Ian made its way toward Florida on Wednesday, it appeared water had receded from Tampa Bay, as if the body of water had been drained and dried out. 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. 

Walking on the newly exposed shore during blowout tide could be dangerous because the winds could rapidly change, and the tide could come back.