Hurricane Ian: Waves inundate roads in Key West as storm upgrades to Category 4
After spending most of Thursday as a tropical storm, Ian has again been upgraded to a hurricane as it targets the coast of South Carolina.
The National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. ET update that Hurricane Ian was “targeting the Carolinas and Georgia with life-threatening flooding, storm surges and high winds.”
The hurricane is now moving north-northwest at about 10 mph with maximum sustained winds increasing to 75 mph with strong gusts.
“Ian may strengthen slightly before landfall tomorrow, and is expected to weaken rapidly in the southeastern United States Friday night through Saturday,” the advisory said.
Dozens of rescue operations have taken place across Florida after unprecedented flooding caused by one of the most powerful hurricanes on record in the United States.
Thousands of people are stranded across the state as Coast Guard helicopters were seen pulling people off rooftops after several feet of water slammed into neighbors. Some 2.5 million people are currently without electricity.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the hurricane as a “500-year flood” and said major infrastructure was badly damaged, including the Sanibel Causeway in southwest Florida and the bridge. to Pine Island, near Fort Myers.
President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster in Florida following the catastrophic impacts. “This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida history,” he said later during a briefing at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters.
More than 500 people rescued so far in Lee and Charlotte counties
“Search and Rescue Update: As of 2:00 p.m. EST, more than 500 people have been rescued in Charlotte and Lee counties since operations began this morning. Search and rescue efforts are underway in affected areas,” the state emergency management department tweeted Thursday.
Hurricane Ian made landfall in Lee County on Wednesday as a Category 4 storm with winds of 150 mph, while Charlotte County lies to the north.
Graeme MassieSeptember 30, 2022 12:01 a.m.
Climate change has increased Ian’s rainfall by 10%, scientists say
The analysis by researchers Kevin Reed of Stony Brook University and Michael Wehner of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has not yet been peer reviewed, but they say they used the same methodology for their study of the hurricane season of the Atlantic 2020, which was.
Graeme MassieSeptember 29, 2022 11:46 p.m.
Disney World guests hunker down as Hurricane Ian brings high winds and rain
All four theme parks at the resort closed on Wednesday, but at the 32 hotels that sit on the 27,000-acre theme park near Orlando, Disney staff have been doing everything they can to keep the magic alive.
Disney World guests hunker down as Hurricane Ian brings high winds and rain
“It’s so horrible what is happening elsewhere, I feel bad”
Graeme MassieSeptember 29, 2022 11:26 p.m.
Ian strengthens in hurricane as it approaches South Carolina
The storm is expected to make landfall again on Friday.
Ian strengthens in hurricane as it approaches South Carolina
The storm is expected to make landfall again on Friday
Graeme MassieSeptember 29, 2022 11:10 p.m.
Mayor of Sanibel writes moving letter after Ian: ‘Our lives and our island have been changed forever’
Sanibel Island is cut off after the only bridge that connects it and Captiva to the mainland took the brunt of the historic hurricane and had sections ripped out.
Sanibel mayor writes moving letter after island was torn apart by Hurricane Ian
A badly damaged bridge is the only road to access the communities of Sanibel and Captiva islands
Graeme MassieSeptember 29, 2022 11:01 p.m.
Florida boats destroyed by Hurricane Ian’s winds and waves
Boats rocked like toys in Fort Myers, Fla. as Hurricane Ian brought devastating winds and storm surge when it made landfall on Wednesday, September 28.
Florida boats destroyed by Hurricane Ian’s winds and waves
Boats rocked like toys in Fort Myers, Florida as Hurricane Ian brought devastating winds and a wave as it made landfall on Wednesday, September 28. President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in the state, which saw widespread destruction and flooding after the storm made landfall as a Category 4. The hurricane weakened to a tropical storm with winds Sustained highs of 65 mph at 8 a.m. Thursday, but remained extremely dangerous, according to the National Hurricane Center. Click here to subscribe to our newsletters.
Graeme MassieSeptember 29, 2022 10:52 p.m.
Firefighters evacuate nursing home as Storm Ian ravages Florida
Residents of a nursing home in Orlando, Florida were evacuated after floodwaters from Hurricane Ian inundated their accommodation on Thursday morning, September 29.
Firefighters evacuate nursing home as Storm Ian ravages Florida
Residents of a nursing home in Orlando, Florida were evacuated after floodwaters from Hurricane Ian inundated their accommodation on Thursday morning, September 29. Dozens of rescue operations were carried out across the state after heavy flooding caused by one of the most powerful hurricanes on record in the United States. Ian weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph at 8 a.m. Thursday, but remained extremely dangerous, according to the National Hurricane Center. Click here to subscribe to our newsletters.
Graeme MassieSeptember 29, 2022 10:40 p.m.
Latest Photos of Florida Devastation by Ian
” height=”726″ width=”982″ layout=”responsive” class=”i-amphtml-layout-responsive i-amphtml-layout-size-defined” i-amphtml-layout=”responsive”>
In an aerial view, a damaged Fort Myers Beach pier and surrounding buildings are seen after Hurricane Ian passed through the area September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
” height=”726″ width=”982″ layout=”responsive” class=”i-amphtml-layout-responsive i-amphtml-layout-size-defined” i-amphtml-layout=”responsive”>
In an aerial view, damaged buildings are seen as Hurricane Ian passed through the area September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
(Getty Images)
Graeme MassieSeptember 29, 2022 10:31 p.m.
Ian went hurricane again
After spending most of Thursday as a tropical storm, Ian was again upgraded to a hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. ET update that Hurricane Ian was “targeting the Carolinas and Georgia with life-threatening flooding, storm surges and high winds.”
The hurricane is now moving north-northwest at about 10 mph with maximum sustained winds increasing to 75 mph with strong gusts.
“Ian may strengthen slightly before landfall tomorrow, and is expected to weaken rapidly in the southeastern United States Friday night through Saturday,” the advisory said.
Hurricane #ian Opinion 29: Ian becomes a hurricane again. Aim for the Carolinas and Georgia with deadly floods, storm surges and high winds. https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 29, 2022
Graeme MassieSeptember 29, 2022 10:21 p.m.
FCC says Ian took down more than 1,500 cell phone sites in Florida
That number represents about 11% of cell sites in the state, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
Lee County, where Hurricane Ian made landfall on Wednesday, reported that 65% of cell sites were swept away by the storm.
Graeme MassieSeptember 29, 2022 10:20 p.m.