Hurricane Ian reached South Carolina as a still-potent Category 1 storm Friday afternoon, two days after it tore into Florida as a Category 4 with 150 mph winds and a massive storm surge. It’s remnants are making their way north through the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic.
Maps show the impacts of Hurricane Ian
As it blasted through the state Wednesday and Thursday, it blew buildings and boats apart and brought devastating flooding. Hundreds had to be rescued; officials were beginning to count the dead.
More than 2 million people remained without power in Florida on Friday.
The National Hurricane Center described flooding through the central portion of Florida as “catastrophic,” and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said the state had “never seen a flood event like this.”
On Thursday, water gauges along Ian’s path showed many places at major flood stage. Some locations reported well over a foot of rain.
Flooding was expected in South Carolina as well. Before the storm made landfall, Myrtle Beach recorded a storm surge of over four feet, the third highest in its history.
The greatest havoc began Wednesday, when Ian barreled into the Florida Gulf Coast with maximum sustained winds of nearly 155 miles per hour and made landfall at Cayo Costa.
Hurricane Ian wind gust speeds
Wednesday through Thursday
Tropical
Storm
39 MPH
Hurricane
Cat. 1
74 MPH
Hurricane
Cat. 3
111 MPH
Hurricane
Cat. 5
157 MPH
Orlando
Tampa
FLORIDA
North Port
Cape Coral
Fort Myers
Gulf of
Mexico
50 MILES
Source: NOAA
Hurricane Ian wind gust speeds
Wednesday through Thursday
Tropical
Storm
39 MPH
Hurricane
Cat. 1
74 MPH
Hurricane
Cat. 3
111 MPH
Hurricane
Cat. 5
157 MPH
Orlando
Tampa
FLORIDA
North Port
Cape Coral
Fort Myers
Gulf of
Mexico
50 MILES
Source: NOAA
Hurricane Ian wind gust speeds
Wednesday through Thursday
Tropical Storm
39 MPH
Hurricane Cat. 1
74 MPH
Cat. 3
111 MPH
Cat. 5
157 MPH
50 MILES
Orlando
Tampa
FLORIDA
North Port
Gulf of
Mexico
Cape Coral
Fort Myers
Source: NOAA
Storm surge was expected to be a huge cause of devastation, as Ian’s wind and pressure shoved walls of water up the gentle slope of the vulnerable coastline.
Potential storm surge
feet above ground
1
2
3
6
9 feet
or more
NORTH
Detail
25 MILES
FLORIDA
Gulf of
Mexico
Homosassa
Spring Hill
Tampa
St. Petersburg
North Port
Hurricane
Ian landfall
3:05 p.m. Wednesday
Cape Coral
Fort Myers
Marco
Island
Note: Storm surge data as of
5 p.m. Wednesday ET
Source: NOAA
TK TK
Potential storm surge
feet above ground
1
2
3
6
9 feet
or more
NORTH
Detail
25 MILES
FLORIDA
Gulf of
Mexico
Homosassa
Spring Hill
Tampa
St. Petersburg
Sarasota
North Port
Hurricane
Ian landfall
3:05 p.m. Wednesday
Cape Coral
Fort Myers
Marco
Island
Note: Storm surge data as of
5 p.m. Wednesday ET
Source: NOAA
Potential storm surge
feet above ground
Homosassa
Spring Hill
9 feet
or more
3
6
2
1
Tampa
St. Petersburg
Florida
Sarasota
North Port
Cape Coral
Hurricane Ian landfall
3:05 p.m. Wednesday
Fort Myers
Marco
Island
Gulf of
Mexico
Note: Storm surge data as of 5 p.m. Wednesday ET
Source: NOAA
50 MILES
The National Hurricane Center predicted as much as 12 to 18 feet of flooding for areas from Port Charlotte to Naples, including the Fort Myers and Cape Coral regions. A gauge at Naples stopped reporting after water there approached 10 feet.
Potential storm surge
and surrounding buildings
feet above ground
1
2
3
6
9 feet
or more
Fort Myers
Cape Coral
Bonita
Springs
Detail
Naples
Gulf of
Mexico
5 MILES
Note: Storm surge data as of 5 p.m. Wednesday ET
Source: NOAA, Microsoft
Potential storm surge
and surrounding buildings
feet above ground
9 feet
or more
1
2
3
6
Detail
Fort Myers
Cape Coral
Bonita
Springs
Gulf of
Mexico
Naples
5 MILES
Note: Storm surge data as
of 5 p.m. Wednesday ET
Source: NOAA, Microsoft
Potential storm surge
and surrounding buildings
feet above ground
9 feet
or more
3
6
2
1
Detail
Fort Myers
Cape Coral
St. James
City
Sanibel
Bonita
Springs
Gulf of
Mexico
Naples
5 MILES
Note: Storm surge data as of 5 p.m. Wednesday ET
Source: NOAA, Microsoft
Observed water levels
Fort Myers
10
feet
8
Observed water levels
6
Typical water
levels
4
2
0
4 p.m.
8 a.m.
4 p.m.
ET
12 a.m.
Sept. 28
8 a.m.
12 a.m.
Sept. 29
Naples
10
feet
Station stopped
reporting after
1:06 p.m.
8
6
4
2
0
4 p.m.
8 a.m.
4 p.m.
12 a.m.
Sept. 28
Source: NOAA
Observed water levels
Fort Myers
10
feet
8
Observed water levels
6
Typical water
levels
4
2
0
8 a.m.
8 a.m.
4 p.m.
ET
12 a.m.
Sept. 28
12 a.m.
Sept. 29
4 p.m.
Naples
10
feet
Station stopped
reporting after
1:06 p.m.
8
6
4
2
0
4 p.m.
8 a.m.
4 p.m.
12 a.m.
Sept. 28
Source: NOAA
Observed water levels
Fort Myers
Naples
10
feet
10
feet
Station stopped
reporting after
1:06 p.m.
8
8
Observed water levels
6
6
Typical water
levels
4
4
2
2
0
0
8 a.m.
8 a.m.
4 p.m.
ET
4 p.m.
12 a.m.
Sept. 28
8 a.m.
4 p.m.
12 a.m.
Sept. 28
12 a.m.
Sept. 29
4 p.m.
Source: NOAA