Ian climbs the U.S. coast as a tropical storm, Canada looks to be spared
Ian, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded on landfall in the United States, will continue lashing Florida through Thursday. The storm made landfall in southwestern Florida on Wednesday afternoon as a high-end Category 4 storm with fierce winds of 240 km/h. The storm hit land just shy of Category 5 intensity.
PHOTOS: Towns devastated as destructive Hurricane Ian hits Florida
The official landfall occurred at 3:05 p.m. EDT, when the centre of the eye came ashore near Cayo Costa, Florida. Ian completely flooded communities and left more than 2 million homes and businesses without power.
Ian, downgraded to a tropical storm as of Thursday morning, will continue to produce heavy rain, storm surge and gusty winds across portions of Florida, Georgian and the Carolinas. The storm was still packing winds up to 100 km/h early Thursday.
“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,” said the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in the Thursday morning update. “The center will move farther inland across the Carolinas Friday night and Saturday.”
Widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flash and urban flooding, will continue across central Florida, the NHC warns.
WATCH: ‘Strongest winds since Katrina,’ TWN storm chaser recounts experiencing Ian landfall
While Ian has weaked to a tropical storm, there is the potential for some re-strengthening ahead of a third landfall due to the warm Gulf stream waters off the Carolina’s. Ian could be near hurricane strength when it approaches the coast of South Carolina on Friday.
Ian will bring between 100-200 mm of rain to the Carolina’s and into Virgina Friday through Saturday.
Weakening is expected Friday night and Saturday after Ian moves inland.
Where will Ian head next? Canada looks to be spared
Beyond the southeast U.S., where will Ian head next?
Emotions are certainly high across Canada’s East Coast, just five days after Hurricane Fiona left a devasating mark across the region.
“Fortunately, Canada can thank sprawling high pressure across the country for shielding much of eastern Canada from any lingering precipitation from Ian’s remnant energy this weekend,” says Kelly Sonnenburg, a meteorologist at The Weather Network. “The high pressure will force moisture off towards the Mid-Atlantic of the U.S. and east into the Atlantic Ocean.”
The only minor impacts from Ian’s energy will possibly be some high clouds across southern Ontario, Quebec and into Atlantic Canada this weekend. Much welcomed news for a region that remains in full clean-up and recovery mode.
SEE: Satellite images show how Fiona’s surge sucked sand off P.E.I.’s shores
WATCH: How does Fiona’s storm surge in Canada compare to Hurricane Ian?
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates on Tropical Storm Ian.
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