Ian sets sights on Carolinas and Georgia

Hurricane Ian is currently located 295 km south of Charleston, South Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h.

Areas currently under a hurricane warning can expect to see winds of hurricane strength early on Friday.

There are still 2.1 million people without power in Florida. There are a couple of thousand power outages in South Carolina and Georgia.

Heavy rain is expected. Coastal Georgia could see 1 to 2 inches. 4 to 8 inches is possible in northeastern sections of South Carolina. Across central South Carolina, North Carolina, and southern Virginia rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches are possible.

This rain will cause flooding across central Florida through next week. On Friday flooding will occur across coastal and northeast South Carolina.

Severe thunderstorms embedded in the storm could cause tornadoes along a portion of the coastal Carolinas. The threat will spread inland across eastern North Carolina during the afternoon and evening and into southeast Virginia overnight through early Saturday morning.

Large swells are affecting the northern coast of Cuba, the northeastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula, Florida and Georgia. Swells will increase along the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Storm surge forecast:

• Edisto Beach to Little River Inlet 4-7 ft

• Flagler/Volusia County Line to Edisto Beach 3-5 ft

• Litter River Inlet to Cape Fear 3-5 ft

• Cape Fear River 2-4 ft

• St. Johns River 2-4 ft

• East of Cape Fear to Duck, including Pamlico and Neuse Rivers 2-4 ft

• Patrick Air Force Base to Flagler/Volusia County Line 1-3 ft

• Albemarle Sound 1-2 ft