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Latest forecast: Hurricane Ian comes ashore in Georgetown, SC
Ian is expected to move through eastern South Carolina, bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ian has made landfall along the South Carolina coast, the first landfall of a hurricane in the Palmetto State in six years.
The National Hurricane Center says Ian came ashore around 2:05 p.m. Eastern near Georgetown, South Carolina. It’s already brought storm surge on the coast and heavy rainfall and strong winds in other parts of the state.
As of the 2:15 p.m. update advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Ian had maximum sustained winds of 85 miles an hour and was moving to the north-northeast at 15 miles an hour.
Already, steady, heavy rain is being reported across the state and storm surge and flooding is taking place in coastal areas.
Watches/Warnings for South Carolina:
A hurricane warning is in effect for the entire South Carolina coast.
A tropical storm warning has been issued for the entire Midlands. That list of counties includes Richland, Lexington, Sumter, Orangeburg, Saluda, Lee, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Calhoun, and Newberry. That means winds between 25-35 miles an hour with gusts up to 45 miles an hour.
Midlands Impacts:
Heavy rainfall, flash flooding will be the greatest threat as the rain moves in early Friday. Widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches is forecast. Some isolated areas will probably get more than that. According to the Weather Prediction Center, the southeastern half of the Midlands is in a moderate risk for excessive rainfall.
Gusty winds are expected as Ian nears the coast Friday. While tropical-storm-force winds are not expected for all of the Midlands, tropical-storm-force gusts, winds above 50 mph will be possible. The strongest winds are likely on the east to northeastern part of what is left of the storm’s circulation center.
These winds are likely to pass north of the area by Saturday afternoon, with generally decreasing southerly winds behind the system.
Our in-house forecast model takes the rain out of the area by the end of the day on Friday.
Midlands Timeline:
Friday afternoon:
Heavy rainfall continues for a large portion of the state, but the rain starts to taper off along the coastal region of South Carolina. Winds will still be strong at times, out of the northeast at 20-30 mph with gusts stronger around 40 to 50 mph.
Friday evening:
Our in-house forecast model starts to bring the rain to an end. The global models keep the rain around through at least Saturday.