Hurricane Ian slammed into the South Carolina coast on Friday afternoon — making one more landfall simply days after leaving a path of lethal destruction throughout Florida.
Ian’s heart got here ashore close to Georgetown, about 60 miles north of Charleston, simply after 2 p.m. whereas packing most sustained winds of 85 mph, in line with U.S. Nationwide Hurricane Middle.
Forecasters have warned the Class 1 hurricane will convey “life-threatening storm surge,” in addition to damaging winds and flash flooding to giant swaths of South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina.
Forecasters are predicting a storm surge of as much as 7 toes into coastal areas of the Carolinas, and rainfall of as much as 8 inches.
Nonetheless, the hurricane made landfall with a lot weaker winds than when it smashed into Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday as one of many strongest storm cyclones to ever hit the U.S. mainland.
Heavy rainfall kilos Sullivan Island in Charleston, South Carolina.
A abandoned street on the Isle of Palms in Charleston, South Carolina.
Only a few vehicles are driving alongside Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina.
Highways are clear after residents had been requested to remain at their houses.
An empty street on Coleman Blvd in Charleston, South Carolina.
Winds might attain 85 mph in South Carolina.
Ian was forecast to solely weaken additional because it strikes inland throughout the Carolinas.
“Plenty of prayers have been answered – this storm isn't as unhealthy because it might have been, however don’t let your guard down but,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster mentioned because the hurricane made landfall.
“We aren't out of the woods but, there may be water on the roads, nonetheless heavy winds, and it's nonetheless harmful in lots of elements of the state.”
Even earlier than making landfall, storms had been pummeling South Carolina’s shoreline early Friday as Ian inched nearer. On Friday morning within the historic metropolis of Charleston, highly effective wind gusts bent tree branches and regular rain fell.
In Myrtle Seashore, waves had been crashing into the often crowded boardwalk vacationer space and a well-liked pier within the seashore group of Pawleys Island had collapsed and floated away.
“We're within the coronary heart of it proper now,” mentioned Matt Storen, a police sergeant within the beachside group of Isle of Palms. “Plenty of energy outages, we're getting some downed timber.”
Greater than 200,000 houses and companies within the Carolinas had been with out energy after Ian made landfall, in line with the PowerOutage.us monitoring web site.
An aerial shot reveals a flooded neighborhood in Fort Myers.
Boats had been grounded all through a lot of Florida's shoreline, together with right here in San Carlos Island close to Fort Myers.
Ian fully reduce off Sanibel Causeway by destroying its entry to the mainland.
Greater than 2 million Floridians woke with out energy to survey the lethal destruction.
entire areas had been flooded, similar to Bonita Springs, the place a automotive is seen practically totally submerged.
Aerial photographs present how the hurrican tossed round and destroyed boats in Florida with its near-record energy.
Hurricane Ian was regaining energy after leaving a lethal path of destruction by means of Florida, a lot of which continues to be flooded.
In the meantime, greater than 2 million in Florida woke with out energy to survey the historic dying and destruction left in its path.
Whereas the worst of the storm had left Florida by Friday, “ongoing main to document river flooding will proceed by means of subsequent week” throughout elements of the Sunshine State, the advisory pressured.
The devastation throughout Florida — the place Ian made landfall simply shy of the utmost Class 5 storm with 150-mph winds — meant native rescue crews had been nonetheless unable to succeed in these in want and tally the lacking and lifeless.
President Biden on Thursday warned that it “may very well be the deadliest hurricane in Florida’s historical past.”
“We’re listening to early studies of what could also be substantial lack of life,” he mentioned.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis mentioned no less than 700 rescues, largely by air, had been carried out on Thursday involving the US Coast Guard, the Nationwide Guard and concrete search-and-rescue groups, however famous round 10,000 folks had been nonetheless unaccounted for.
He mentioned “we totally anticipate to have mortality from this hurricane,” however cautioned towards speculating on a probable quantity. To this point 21 have been confirmed lifeless because of the hurricane.
Early Friday, greater than 2 million had been with out energy within the Sunshine State, down from 2.6 million yesterday.
With all of South Carolina’s coast below a hurricane warning, a gradual stream of autos left Charleston – a lot of which lies under the water line – on Thursday, many probably heeding officers’ warnings to hunt greater floor. Storefronts had been sandbagged to keep at bay excessive water ranges in an space susceptible to inundation.
“It is a harmful storm that can convey excessive winds and numerous water, however essentially the most harmful factor about it is going to be human error,” Gov. McMaster tweeted.
“Be sensible, make good selections, test in your family members, and keep secure.”
In North Carolina, Nationwide Guard troops had been already on the prepared for rescue missions.
“This storm is harmful. Be sure you’re ready,” Gov. Ray Cooper mentioned.
The Nationwide Climate Service warns that a Class 1 hurricane — with winds between 74 and 95 mph — can harm roofs on even well-constructed houses in addition to rip up timber and trigger intensive energy outages.
Whereas Ian is anticipated to lose energy after passing the Carolinas and Virginia, it should nonetheless convey heavy rainfall for a lot of the Northeast all through the weekend, together with New York.
With Publish wires
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