Friday Morning Update: 9/30
Hurricane Ian now sits in the Atlantic as a Category 1 storm.
Gaining strength after reentering open water, Ian continues its path toward South Carolina Friday.
Ian is expected to make a third landfall and will move over the South Carolina coast Friday evening as a Category 1 hurricane.
In our area, a little bit of a breeze persists through Friday evening. Otherwise, temperatures remain cooler with sunshine and mid 80s on the way for the weekend.
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After crossing the Florida peninsula, Ian returned to an ocean environment Thursday and cranked up to hurricane-level strength once more.
Ian is currently moving north-northeast at 10 mph with peak winds of 85 mph late Thursday night.
Strong winds are lashing out at the Georgia coastline, with times of heavy rain skimming the I-95 counties. Winds along the First Coast have been steady above 30 mph, with wind gusts topping tropical storm force. Higher water levels caused by storm surge have triggered areas of flooding.
Ian's third landfall (following western Cuba and the southwest Florida coast) will be along the South Carolina shoreline later Friday as a category 1 hurricane.
Local impacts have been mainly in the form of north breezes and scattered clouds. Through Friday morning, winds will be sustained at 15 to 25 mph area-wide, with higher gusts possible. Isolated power outages are possible.
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Thursday Morning Update: 9/29
Hurricane Ian is now Tropical Storm as max sustained winds sit near 65 MPH.
This is as the storm reenters Atlantic waters Thursday afternoon before making a second landfall near the Georgia/ South Carolina state line Friday.
During this time, our Big Bend and South Georgia areas will feel the breeze pick up through afternoon hours.
Gusts of around 40+ MPH are possible as sustained winds pick up Thursday afternoon through Friday morning.
Most of our area stays dry, but we could see a few showers in the far eastern side of our viewing area (closer to the I-75 corridor and east) later Thursday evening and Friday.
The only impacts foreseen by this storm to our area will be isolated power outages near the I-75 corridor Thursday afternoon through Friday morning as the storm moves well east of us.
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Hurricane Ian is making the trek across the central Florida peninsula late Wednesday as a weaker storm but still a heavy rain and strong wind producer.
Ian is currently moving north-northeast at 8 mph with peak winds of 90 mph late Wednesday night.
The main adverse effects Ian will cause into Thursday morning will be wind-related damage in the interior Florida peninsula near and south of Interstate 4, along with increase storm surge conditions along the Florida east coast. A few spin-up tornadoes are also possible along the Atlantic shoreline.
Catastrophic damage is expected in the wake of this hurricane's path near the southwest coastline of Florida. Peak wind gusts around 130 mph were reported around the time of landfall Wednesday afternoon.
Power losses for the southern and central Florida peninsula have topped 1,000,000 customers.
By Thursday morning, this storm is expected to be a Tropical Storm, but tornadoes, wind damage, and flooding are still likely to be issues along the east side of the Florida peninsula.
Local impacts can still be felt, although in very limited amounts. Our impacts mostly happen Thursday through Friday morning. In general, winds will be sustained at 20 to 35 mph area-wide, with higher gusts up to Tropical Storm strength. Isolated power outages are possible, mostly for the eastern side of our area (closer to the I-75 corridor).
Outer bands will bring heavy rain at times to the east side of our area (also near I-75) over Thursday and Friday. Impacts from flooding will be minimal to non-existent. Rainfall amounts will range from near 1" around the I-75 counties to none in the tri-state region.
Ian-related advisories in effect locally:
- A tropical storm warning is in effect for the entire Big Bend coastline until further notice. This means winds of 40 mph and other tropical storm characteristics are expected to continue Thursday, particularly offshore.
8 p.m. Update, 9/28
Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday afternoon on the southwest coastline of Florida near Cayo Costa, north of Captiva in coastal Lee County as a major and potentially historic Category 4 hurricane.
The landfall of a hurricane happens when the middle part of the storm's eye crossed over land.
Ian is currently moving north-northeast at 8 MPH with peak winds of 130 mph, falling to Category 3 level early Wednesday evening.
Catastrophic damage is expected in the wake of this hurricane's path near the southwest coastline of Florida.
News coverage at sister station Fox 4 in Fort Myers reports increasing flooding from storm surge, some of which is reported to have reached 9 to 12 feet at Fort Myers Beach.
Power losses for the southern Florida peninsula have topped 1,000,000 customers as of mid-afternoon, with over 300,000 of those in Lee County.
This storm's path leads northeast through the Florida peninsula where it will continue to gradually weaken.
By Thursday morning, this storm is expected to be a Tropical Storm, but tornadoes, wind damage, and flooding are still likely to be issues along the east side of the Florida peninsula.
As this storm moves over Orlando and back into the Atlantic Ocean, local impacts can still be felt. Our impacts mostly happen Thursday through Friday morning. In general, winds will be sustained at 20 to 35 mph area-wide, with higher gusts up to Tropical Storm strength. Isolated power outages are possible, mostly for the eastern side of our area (closer to the I-75 corridor).
Outer bands will bring heavy rain at times to the east side of our area (also near I-75) over Thursday and Friday. Impacts from flooding will be minimal.
Ian-related advisories in effect locally:
- A tropical storm warning is in effect for the entire Big Bend coastline until further notice. This means winds of 40 mph and other tropical storm characteristics are expected, mainly today and Thursday.
