The last landfall of Hurricane Ian will occur today, bringing storm surge, flood, powerful winds, and isolated tornadoes from the Carolinas to some areas of Virginia.
Around 105 miles to the south-southeast of Charleson in South Carolina, experts have tracked Hurricane Ian which is traveling quickly to the north-northeast.
Parts of North and South Carolina are already feeling the effects of the strong wind gusts, heavy rain, and higher-than-normal water levels.
This morning, flooding in the Charleston metro area forced the closure of multiple roads. At the airport, winds have gusted as high as 40 mph.
This afternoon, Ian is expected to make landfall as a hurricane at Category 1 along the upper South Carolina coast.
From there, it will gradually lose strength, becoming a tropical storm by late Friday. On Saturday, a residual area of low pressure will be over North Carolina.
Weather Alerts and Warnings
The South Carolina coast, including Charleston, Hilton Head Island, and Myrtle Beach, as well as the North Carolina coast portions up to Cape Fear, are all under a hurricane warning. This indicates that these areas should experience hurricane-like conditions on Friday.
A storm surge warning is still in place along the Atlantic coast from northeast Florida's Flagler-Volusia County line to Cape Fear, North Carolina. This includes the St. Johns River in Florida and North Carolina's lower Neuse River. This indicates that potentially fatal flooding is expected due to rising water that moves inland from the coast.
Tropical storm warnings are still in effect from a portion of eastern Georgia to most of eastern and central North Carolina, as well as most of South Carolina.
Storm Surge
On Friday, flooding from the storm surge is anticipated to continue on northeast Florida's Atlantic side, into South Carolina, coastal Georgia, and eastern North Carolina.
Today's high tide is expected to cause some coastal flooding in Charleston as well as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
W​ind Threat
In areas under tropical storm and hurricane warnings, particularly in the Carolinas, there may be sporadic power outages and minor tree damage.
As of the most recent National Hurricane Center advisory, data indicates that hurricane force winds or sustained tropical storms are still present.
Read also: North Carolina Now Under State of Emergency in Preparation for Incoming Severe Weather
Heavy Rains
A whole other significant threat from the Carolinas to the Appalachians and Virginia is heavy rainfall.
These areas' extensive rainfall may result in flash flooding and even river flooding. Further south, major flooding to record river flooding is anticipated to last into the first part of next week in some parts of Florida.
Friday could see a few tornadoes from southeastern Virginia to eastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina.
According to the National Hurricane Center's most recent rainfall prediction, Northeast South Carolina will experience 4 to 8 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts of 12 inches.
Meanwhile, 3 to 6 inches of rain, with locally as much as 8 inches, is expected in Upstate as well as in areas of Central South Carolina, Southern Virginia, and North Carolina, The Weather Channel reports.
Related article: South Carolina to Expect Torrential Rain and Storm Surge after Ian intensified to Hurricane