Hurricane Ian To Make Landfall In South Carolina Friday | WeatherBug
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Hurricane Ian To Make Landfall In South Carolina Friday

September 30, 2022
UPDATED By WeatherBug Meteorologists
After traveling over the Atlantic Ocean, Ian strengthened back into a hurricane yesterday afternoon. It has its sights set on a second U.S. landfall in South Carolina today.

As of 5 a.m. EDT, Ian was located at 30.8 N and 79.1 W, or 145 miles south-southeast of Charleston, S.C., and 225 miles south-southwest of Cape Fear, N.C. Ian’s maximum sustained winds remain at 85 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. It is moving north-northeast at 9 mph and has a minimum central pressure of 984 mb, or 29.06 inches of mercury.
 
A Hurricane Warning has been issued across coastal South Carolina into southeastern North Carolina from the Savannah River to Cape Fear, N.C. A Hurricane Watch is in effect east of Cape Fear to Surf City, N.C.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in place from Atamaha Sound, Ga. to the Savannah River, and from Cape Fear to Duck, N.C., including the Pamlico Sound.

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect from northeastern Florida into North Carolina from the Flagler/Volusia Line in Florida to Cape Fear, N.C., including the St. Johns River in Florida. An additional Storm Surge Warning has been issued for the Neuse River in North Carolina. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect across North Carolina from Cape Fear to Duck, including the Cape Fear and Pamlico rivers.

Ian will continue to move northerly over the western Atlantic Ocean before making landfall along the South Carolina coast this afternoon. While it could continue to intensify some, it will likely be a low-end hurricane when it makes landfall close to Charleston, S.C.

Ian will bring tropical storm-force winds from southeastern Georgia to southeastern North Carolina this morning and then toward central to northeastern North Carolina by Friday evening. Hurricane-force winds will be located close to the center where Ian makes landfall.

Dangerous storm surge is expected for northeastern Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. The highest storm surge will reach 4 to 7 feet for the east-central South Carolina coast from Edisto Beach to Murrells Inlet, with 2 to 6 feet elsewhere from northeastern Florida into North Carolina from the Flagler/Volusia County Line in Florida to Duck, N.C. East-central Florida can still expect storm surge of 1 to 3 feet today.

Heavy to very heavy rain will continue to overspread coastal Georgia and the Carolinas today. The southern Mid-Atlantic could also see heavy rain this afternoon into Saturday. Eastern South Carolina will pick up 4 to 8 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 12 inches. Upstate and central South Carolina, North Carolina and southern Virginia will see 3 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 8 inches in northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia. 

Severe weather will also be an issue with Ian's rain bands this afternoon and evening from the northeastern coast of South Carolina to southern edge of Maryland. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk for these areas which includes the cities of Wilmington and Raleigh, N.C., Myrtle Beach, S.c. and Virginia Beach, Va. The main threats will be brief tornadoes and damaging winds. 

While the climatological peak of hurricane season just recently passed, it is very important to still be ready for a tropical storm or hurricane should one come your way. Collect non-perishable goods and water, blankets, radios and batteries, and extra cellphone chargers into a hurricane-supply kit. Scope out multiple evacuation routes in case your preferred route is traffic-jammed or blocked.