5 AM (EST) update

At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Ian was located near latitude 30.8 North, longitude 79.1 West. Ian is moving toward the north-northeast near 9 mph (15 km/h). A turn toward the north with an increase in forward speed is expected this morning, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest by tonight. On the forecast track, the center of Ian will approach and reach the coast of South Carolina today, and then move farther inland across eastern South Carolina and central North Carolina tonight and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected before Ian reaches the coast later today. Rapid weakening is expected after landfall, and Ian is forecast to become an extratropical low over North Carolina tonight or on Saturday. The low is then expected to dissipate by Saturday night.

Ian should make landfall today and fall apart shortly afterwards.

SW Florida death toll to date – 15

Hopefully the Carolinas will not have any.