Hurricane Ian impact felt in Ocean City, Maryland and Virginia

UPDATE: Saturday late afternoon

A loader was rescue from the surf using other equipment in Ocean City, video posted to social media showed Saturday. Mats used for moving vehicles over the sand for Oceans Calling were washed into the sea.

UPDATE Saturday afternoon:

About 2 inches of rain had fallen by Saturday morning as Hurricane Ian bands moved through the area. On the Delmarva Peninsula, rain had lightened Saturday but was expected to return Sunday.

Coastal Flood Warnings issued by the National Weather Service continued throughout Saturday. A Beach Hazard Advisory continues through Sunday, with high risk of rip currents.

Ocean City bars and restaurants announced specials all weekend in an attempt to attract those who had originally planned to attend the inaugural three-day Oceans Calling festival. The event was cancelled due to threat of weather but many still had hotel reservations and came anyway. Making the best of it, visitors packed the bars and at least one of the acts, G Love, booked a last-minute gig at the Purple Moose. At least part of the festival grounds was covered in water Saturday. The boardwalk was also busy Saturday.

SUNDAY UPDATE: Remnants of Ian: Voluntary evacuation for parts of Chincoteague; major flooding Monday

Original story:

Hurricane Ian pummeled South Carolina, yet further north, the Delmarva Peninsula was prepared for rain, flooding and wind.

This was the third landfall for the hurricane, which had sustained winds of 85 mph Friday evening. Ian left flooding and an estimated 181,000 without power immediately after landfall in South Carolina. It had been downgraded since it made initial U.S. landfall as a Category 4 in Florida a day earlier. Virginia had been placed under a state of emergency.

By Saturday morning, Ian had been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone.

What are the warnings and watches?

On Saturday, light rain will taper off as the day goes on, but coastal flooding remains a concern. Rain will, however, return on Sunday.

A High Surf Advisory was expected expire as 10 a.m. Saturday for coastal Worcester County, including Ocean City. Large breaking waves of 7-10 feet in the surf zone could cause dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion.

An overnight wind advisory was set to expire at 4 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 for Maryland beaches and Virginia counties including Northumberland, Lancaster, Gloucester, Middlesex, Mathews, Accomack and Northampton. Northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph were expected.

Overnight Friday, brought rain and wind, heavy at times, the Delmarva.

Peak winds by 4 p.m. Friday were at 69 mph at Cape Henry and 68 mph on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, according to the National Weather Service. Due to high wind concerns, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel was under wind restrictions by mid-day Friday. Around midnight, those restrictions were lifted and the bridge-tunnel was reopened.

Wind gusts by 12:30 a.m. Saturday were measured at 43 mph in Rehoboth Beach, and 48 mph in Dewey Beach, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, N.J.

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Hurricane Ian damage in Maryland

In preparation for high winds and tides and storm surge from Hurricane Ian, Assateague Island National Seashore's Maryland Oversand Vehicle Area closed at 1 p.m. Friday. That was two hours ahead of an announced closing due to due to "unsafe and worsening conditions." Reopening time is contingent on the progress of the storm and any resultant beach damage, the park posted to its Facebook page.

Assateague State Park on Friday experienced strong gusty winds and heavy surf conditions, according to a Maryland State Parks Facebook post. No swimming is permitted. The post urged caution if visiting the beach through Monday.

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"Beach erosion is expected which may include steep drop-offs. Sand has filled in many crossovers and will continue until winds subside; some crossovers will be closed. Please use caution," the post reads.

In preparation for the storm, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Friday of statewide preparedness efforts as the remnants of Hurricane Ian move up the mid-Atlantic, leading to coastal flood and gale warnings in the region. Earlier this week, the governor announced the deployment of an Incident Management Team to Florida to assist with the response.

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The death toll thus far in Florida was confirmed at 14, but could be higher.

A number of state agencies and law enforcement will be on high alert to make sure residents stay safe during the severe weather, especially in areas of heavy flooding.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Hurricane Ian brings rain, surf to Ocean City, Md., Maryland, Virginia