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The danger of life-threatening inundation from storm surge persists in Central Florida as Hurricane Ian takes aim at the Carolinas and Georgia as a Category 1 storm.
As of 8 p.m., Ian was moving toward the north-northeast at about 10 mph with maximum sustained winds at 75 mph. The storm is about 215 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina and about 300 miles south-southwest of Cape Fear, North Carolina.
Tropical Storm Ian was upgraded to a hurricane, according to the 5 p.m. National Hurricane Center advisory, as Central Florida experienced massive amounts of rain.
Ian came ashore Wednesday afternoon near Cayo Costa, Florida, with winds of 150 mph and began a punishing march northeastward across the state.
“A turn toward the north is expected tonight, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest with an increase in forward speed Friday night. On the forecast track, Ian will approach the coast of South Carolina on Friday,” the National Hurricane Center said. “The center will move farther inland across the Carolinas Friday night and Saturday.”
Active watches and warnings:
Flash Flood Warning for Flagler County until 9 p.m.
A Flood Warning is in place for Lake, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia
A flood advisory has been posted for Orange, Brevard, Volusia, Seminole, Lake, Osceola, Indian River
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Brevard, Volusia and Flagler
A storm surge warning remains in effect for Flagler/Volusia Line
A hurricane watch remains in effect for Flagler
Ian is forecast to produce the following rainfall through Thursday:
- Central and Northeast Florida: 12 to 20 inches, with isolated totals up to 30 inches.
- Coastal Georgia and Low Country of South Carolina: 4 to 8 inches, with isolated totals up to 12 inches.
- Upstate and central South Carolina, North Carolina, and southern Virginia: 3 to 6 inches with isolated totals of 8 inches across western North Carolina.
During a press conference Thursday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis noted that Central Florida is experiencing “a 500-year flood event.”
As for reports of hundreds of deaths in Lee County, DeSantis said “none of that is confirmed” and is only an estimate. He said it was based on emergency calls from people saying that the water is rising in their homes.
One fatality has been confirmed in Central Florida. Chopper 2 was over the Orlando area where we saw tremendous flooding in the area.
As of 11 a.m., there were toughly 2.3 million people without power in Florida.
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