‘Life-threatening’ storm surge possible as Hurricane Ian takes aim at Georgia coast
Ian has regained strength as a Category 1 hurricane, threatening Georgia’s coast with the risk for “life-threatening” storm surge, high winds and heavy rain.
A Storm Surge Warning remained in effect Friday, Sept. 30, for parts of southeast Georgia and the South Carolina coast, where the system is expected to make landfall this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service office in Charleston.
A Tropical Storm Warning and Flood Watch have also been issued.
“There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge today(Sept. 30) along the coasts of northeast Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas within the Storm Surge Warning areas,” the National Weather Service said in its 5 a.m. update. “Residents in these areas should follow any advice given by local officials.”
Hurricane Ian had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph on Friday, moving north at 9 mph as it crept toward the coast of South Carolina.
Storm surge could top 6 feet in parts of coastal and southeast Georgia, forecasters said.
Other potential risks include tropical storm force winds reaching 30-40 mph with 50 mph gusts and flooding brought on by an additional 2-3 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson declared a local state of emergency on Wednesday, Sept. 28, in anticipation of the storm. A state of emergency issued by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also went into effect at 7 a.m. Thursday for all 159 counties across the Peach State.
“The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) State Operations Center is now at a Level 1 full-scale activation and continues to monitor Tropical Storm Ian’s progress,” according to the governor’s office.
“Teams from the relevant state agencies are also standing by to deploy to affected counties, when appropriate.”
This story was originally published September 29, 2022 at 12:03 PM with the headline "‘Life-threatening’ storm surge possible as Hurricane Ian takes aim at Georgia coast."