Hurricane Ian downgraded as it moves out to sea, swamps NYC region

Hurricane Ian has largely moved out to sea after chopping a lethal path throughout Cuba, Florida and components of South Carolina earlier this week, however heavy rain from the remnants of the storm will proceed swamping the New York Metropolis metro space.

Downpours and flooding are forecast for the Mid-Atlantic area and up the Northeast coast to Cape Cod as considered one of Ian’s arms continues into the Atlantic.

Now downgraded to a post-tropical storm with most 35-mile an hour winds, the remnants of a second arm of Ian have been transferring north via North Carolina on Saturday, and have been forecast to weaken additional earlier than dissipating over south-central Virginia by dusk, in keeping with the Nationwide Climate Service.

Heavy rains began within the early morning hours and have been anticipated to proceed within the New York Metropolis space via the weekend and into Monday.

“Because the remnants of Ian slide via the Northeast, we’re a soggy weekend within the New York Metropolis space,” mentioned Mike Rawlins, senior govt producer at Fox Climate. “With temperatures within the 50s, it’s going to be a type of weekends to cozy up indoors. The rain can be on and off via Sunday with some locations selecting up as a lot as two inches.”

Hurricane Ian is now downgraded to a tropical storm because it heads as much as North Carolina.

Brad Nettles/The Submit and Courier by way of AP

Individuals battle via gusty winds whereas twisting their umbrellas on King Road in Charleston, South Carolina.

Grace Beahm Alford/The Submit and Courier by way of AP

The dying toll from the hurricane, one of many strongest in US historical past, climbed to no less than 30 in Florida and South Carolina, and left flooding and huge swaths of devastation in its wake.

In among the hardest hit areas in Florida, together with Fort Myers, Sanibel Island and Port Charlotte, there was nonetheless localized flooding Saturday morning, in keeping with stories from a Submit correspondent.

An estimated 1.3 million have been nonetheless with out energy in Florida Saturday, and about 51,000 in South Carolina have been at midnight.

A resident carries an American flag whereas strolling via a flooded road in Charleston, South Carolina.

REUTERS/Jonathan Drake

Vehicles drive via excessive floodwaters in Charleston, South Carolina.

AP Photograph/Alex Brandon

Floodwaters reached ft deep at Quarterman Park in North Charleston, South Carolina.

AP Photograph/Meg Kinnard

Small protests broke out throughout Cuba Friday evening, as residents demanded the federal government restore electrical energy to the island the place thousands and thousands have been left with out energy earlier this week.

The storm’s heavy rains continued throughout the central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic area, with Ian “forecast to dissipate over south-central Virginia by tonight,” in keeping with the Nationwide Hurricane Middle.

New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams mentioned in a tweet Saturday that the town’s Emergency Administration was sending out one other crew “to help Florida with Hurricane Ian restoration” Saturday.