Hurricane Ian swept toward the southwestern coast of Florida, making landfall near Cayo Costa with sustained winds around 150 mph, according to the US National Hurricane Center. The storm registered as a category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with officials describing it as an incredibly dangerous cyclone. The threat extended beyond winds to life‑threatening storm surges, pushing sea levels higher and flooding coastal areas. Torrential rains drenched much of the state, while neighbors around Miami faced intense weather events. In some areas, heavy rainfall from Ian intensified the flooding across multiple states and led to hospitalizations in communities near Miami.
Tourist hotspots such as Fort Myers, Captiva Island, and Sanibel were within the affected zone as the hurricane progressed.
orbit
Aircraft and satellite data suggested Ian would move inland from Florida and then emerge over the western Atlantic late tonight into Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon, the storm was forecast to shift northward, approaching Florida’s northeast coast and the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina on Friday.
Despite expectations of some weakening, Ian was poised to maintain near hurricane strength as it tracked along Florida’s east coast and toward the Southeast on Friday.
The escalation of danger last occurred with Hurricane Michael in 2018, which struck Mexico Beach in northwest Florida as a category 5 storm. It produced a dramatic rise in sea levels, with water levels reaching several meters above normal in some areas.
While the most severe impact concentrated in the worst hit areas, Ian affected the entire state to some degree. Federal emergency officials reported that all 67 counties in Florida were under a state of emergency since Monday, with 18 counties issuing mandatory evacuations before Ian arrived.
Shelters, full
When Ian arrived, shelters in the impact zone quickly filled, and thousands of residents evacuated inland to protect their lives. In some cases, even a late evacuation was no longer possible in zones under mandatory orders. Florida authorities urged residents to seek safe shelter and follow official guidance.
a few tornadoes
Several tornadoes associated with Hurricane Ian caused injuries and property damage. Local authorities reported one tornado moving through Kings Point in Palm Beach County, with impacts extending to dozens of communities. Hospitals reported injuries as weather officials assessed the broader storm effects.
Official weather services confirmed reports that Ian damaged the Kings Point Delray community, an area home to many older residents. Evacuations were necessary from parts of that neighborhood after structures were deemed unsafe due to storm damage. While the condition of hospitalized individuals remained uncertain, authorities stressed ongoing monitoring of the situation.
Local broadcasters captured footage showing the storm damaging smaller aircraft at Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Broward County. Several planes sustained significant harm as the outer bands of Ian moved through the region.
As the storm progressed, reports described varying degrees of damage across Cooper City in Broward County. The outer bands caused street flooding and road closures, with fallen trees and debris complicating relief efforts.