Maps show the impacts of Hurricane Ian

Updated October 1, 2022 at 10:47 a.m. EDT|Published September 24, 2022 at 1:51 p.m. EDT
2 min

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.

As Ian made landfall at 2:05 p.m. in Georgetown, S.C., Florida had begun to assess the damage left by the hurricane that was tied for fifth-strongest on record to strike the United States.

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.

Hurricane Ian live updates

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.

What is storm surge?

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

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