'Catastrophic storm surge, winds and flooding': Hurricane Ian batters Florida after landfall

Hurricane Ian is causing "catastrophic storm surge, winds and flooding," according to the National Hurricane Center, after making landfall at 3:05 p.m.

Maximum sustained weakened to 115 mph, making it a Category 3 storm, according to the 8 p.m. advisory. The center of the storm was located about 30 miles northeast of Punta Gorda.

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► Live coverage: Hurricane Ian targets Florida

At 8 p.m., hurricane conditions continued across portions of Southwest Florida.

Hurricane Center forecasters said Ian is likely to remain more intact as it crosses the Florida peninsula — due to both its stronger initial wind speed and its faster forecast forward speed — and this now increases the threat of hurricane-force winds on the east coast of Florida.

Hurricane warnings and watches have been issued for several areas along Florida's East Coast.

Catastrophic storm surge inundation of 12 to 18 feet above ground level along with destructive waves are expected somewhere along the southwest Florida coastline from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor.

Catastrophic wind damage is beginning along the southwestern coast of Florida today near the landfall location. Hurricane-force winds are expected to extend well inland along near the core of Ian.

Widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flooding is expected across portions of central Florida with considerable flooding in southern Florida and northern Florida.

Hurricane conditions are expected along the east-central Florida coast overnight, where a hurricane warning has been issued.

Hurricane conditions are possible from northeastern Florida to portions of South Carolina on Thursday and Friday, and a Hurricane Watch has been issued for that area.

Ian is moving toward the north-northeast near 8 mph. This general motion with a reduction in forward speed is forecast today, followed by a turn toward the northeast on Thursday.

On the forecast track, the center of Ian is expected to move onshore within the hurricane warning area in a few hours, move over central Florida tonight and Thursday morning and emerge over the western Atlantic by late Thursday.

Ian is forecast to turn northward on Friday and approach the northeastern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina coasts late Friday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 115 mph, with higher gusts. Ian is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Weakening is expected after landfall, but Ian could be near hurricane strength when it moves over the Florida's East Coast Thursday, and when it approaches the northeastern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina coasts late Friday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 50 miles, from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles.

Where is Hurricane Ian now?

Here is the latest data on Hurricane Ian pulled from the National Hurricane Center's 8 p.m. advisory.

• Location: 30 miles northeast of Punta Gorda

• Maximum sustained winds: 115 mph

• Movement: north-northeast at 8 mph

• Pressure: 960 MB (millibars)

• When next advisory will be released: 11 p.m. (although NHC is issuing hourly updates as conditions change)

Spaghetti models: Track Ian here

Helpful hurricane resources and links

Get your home ready: Here's how to prepare your home for a hurricane, from well in advance to just before a storm's arrival

Need to prepare for a hurricane? Here's what you should have in a disaster supply kit

Hurricane preparedness list: If a storm is coming, here is what you need to do now

Video: Helpful tips for a hurricane survival kit

Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones: What’s an invest and why do they keep saying tropical cyclone?

Officials encourage residents to assemble a hurricane kit early, storing enough supplies to last at least three days. Doing so ensures there are adequate supplies available on store shelves and prevents a rush — and shortages — that regularly occur when a storm is imminent.

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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Ian causing storm surge, flooding in Florida after landfall