Tropical Storm Ian is located east of Orlando and is moving over central Florida toward the east central coast of Florida. Ian has weakened to a tropical storm and is expected to turn north and north-northwest by Friday and Friday night.

At 8 AM EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Ian was located 40 miles east of Orlando and 10 miles west of Cape Canaveral, FL.

Ian is moving toward the northeast near 8 mph. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected later today, followed by a turn toward the north and north-northwest with an increase in forward speed Friday and Friday night. On the forecast track, the center of Ian is expected to move off the east-central coast of Florida soon and then approach the coast of South Carolina on Friday. The center will move farther inland across the Carolinas Friday night and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 65 mph with higher gusts. Some re-intensification is forecast, and Ian could be near hurricane strength when it approaches the coast of South Carolina on Friday. Weakening is expected Friday night and Saturday after Ian moves inland.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 415 miles from the center. Daytona Beach International Airport recently reported a sustained wind of 60 mph and a gust to 70 mph.

Jacksonville International Airport recently reported a sustained wind of 26 mph and a gust to 41 mph.

STORM SURGE: There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge today through Friday along the coasts of northeast FL, GA, and SC. Residents in these areas should follow advice from local officials.

The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

• Flagler/Volusia County Line to South Santee River…4-6 ft
• St. Johns River north of Julington…3-5 ft
• St. Johns River south of Julington…2-4 ft
• South Santee River to Little River Inlet…2-4 ft
• Patrick Air Force Base to Flagler/Volusia County Line…1-3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the center, where the surge will be accompanied by large waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are occuring in parts of the warning area on the east and west coasts of Florida and should spread northward along the Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina coasts today through Friday. Hurricane conditions are possible within the Hurricane Watch area in northeastern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina through Friday.

RAINFALL: Ian is expected to produce the following storm total rainfall:

• Northeast Florida, coastal Georgia and Lowcountry of South Carolina: 4 to 8 inches, with local maxima of 12 inches.
• Upstate and central South Carolina, North Carolina, and southern Virginia: 3 to 6 inches with local maxima of 8 inches across western North Carolina.

FLASH FLOODING: Widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flash and urban flooding, with major to record flooding along rivers, will continue across central Florida. Widespread considerable flash, urban, and river flooding is expected across portions of northeast Florida, southeastern Georgia, and eastern South Carolina tomorrow through the weekend. Locally considerable flash, urban, and river flooding is possible this weekend across portions of the southern Appalachians, where landslides will be possible as well. Limited flooding is possible across portions of the southern Mid-Atlantic.

TORNADOES: A tornado or two remains possible across east-central and northeast Florida through this morning. This threat will shift into the coastal Carolinas on Friday.

Source: National Hurricane Center