Hurricane Ian path update: Ian nearly a Category 5 hurricane as it nears landfall in Florida

Hurricane Ian explosively strengthened overnight and was nearly a Category 5 hurricane with 155 mph winds on Wednesday morning as it tracked closer to the Florida peninsula.

Category 5 winds begin at 157 mph.

The National Hurricane Center is not expecting Ian to weaken before landfall later today and said the storm will cause “catastrophic storm surge, winds and flooding” for southwest Florida.

Storm surge projections have been increased as of 8 a.m. CDT — and areas along the coast could now see potentially up to 18 feet of surge from Ian.

As of 8 a.m. CDT the center of Hurricane Ian was located about 60 miles west of Naples, Fla., or about 70 miles southwest of Punta Gorda, and was tracking north-northeast at 10 mph.

Ian was a top-end Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 155 mph on Wednesday morning, according to reconnaissance data, the hurricane center said.

“Catastrophic wind damage is expected along the southwestern coast of Florida beginning in the next few hours where the core of Ian makes landfall,” the hurricane center said Wednesday morning. “Preparations to protect life and property should be urgently rushed to completion.”

Hurricane warnings stretched up the west coast of the Florida peninsula on Wednesday. The hurricane center said that on the forecast track the center of Ian will make landfall later today, then track over central Florida tonight and Thursday. It could emerge into the western Atlantic by late Thursday.

Ian could bring a devastating 12 to 18 feet of storm surge to the southwest coast of Florida somewhere from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor.

Areas in southwest Florida could get up to 18 feet of storm surge from Ian, which would be catastrophic.

The updated surge projections as of 8 a.m. CDT:

* From Englewood to Bonita Beach…12-18 feet

* Charlotte Harbor…12-18 feet

* From Bonita Beach to Chokoloskee…8-12 feet

* From Chokoloskee to East Cape Sable…5-8 feet

Ian could also bring trouble for the Atlantic coast of Florida, and tropical storm warnings stretched from east Florida all the way northward into South Carolina on Wednesday.

Here are the watches and warnings as of Wednesday:

* A hurricane warning continues for Florida from Chokoloskee to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay and the Dry Tortugas.

* A storm surge warning is in effect from the Suwannee River southward to Flamingo, Tampa Bay, the Lower Florida Keys from Big Pine Key westward to Key West, the Dry Tortugas, from Flagler/Volusia Line to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River and the St. Johns River.

* A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of La Habana, Mayabeque and Matanzas, in Florida from Indian Pass to the Anclote River, all of the Florida Keys, from Flamingo to the South Santee River, from Flamingo to Chokoloskee, Lake Okeechobee, Florida Bay and Bimini and Grand Bahama Islands.

* A storm surge watch is in effect for the Florida Keys from the Card Sound Bridge westward to east of Big Pine Key, Florida Bay and the mouth of St. Mary’s River to South Santee River.

In addition to the storm surge, Ian could bring widespread inland flooding to Florida.

Some areas could get as much as 2 feet of rain as Ian moves across the peninsula.

The hurricane center said “widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flash, urban, and river flooding is expected” across southern and central Florida over the next few days.

Here are some of the forecast rainfall amounts:

* Florida Keys and South Florida: 6 to 8 inches, with local amounts up to 12 inches.

* Central and northeast Florida: 12 to 18 inches, with local amounts up to 24 inches.

* Eastern Georgia and Coastal South Carolina: 4 to 8 inches, with local amounts of 12 inches.

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