LIVE BLOG: Hurricane Ian impacts on Florida | Sept. 28, 2022

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in Florida today and rain is expected to start in North Georgia on Friday. As of early this morning, Ian was a category 4 hurricane and is expected to make landfall early this afternoon north of Fort Myers near Port Charlotte.

HURRICANE IAN 2022 | Full coverage

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11:00 p.m.

First Alert: The latest on how #Ian will impact Georgia. Not much at all in Metro Atlanta. A showery Friday night - the wind may actually be stronger on Thursday (20-30 mph) with sunshine then it will be Friday night in ATL. I'm tracking it on @ATLNewsFirst at 11. pic.twitter.com/EhhAgTaIHx
— Fred Campagna (@FredCampagna) September 29, 2022

10:00 p.m.

9:00 p.m.

Beginning today all projects requiring lane closures along I-16, I-75, and I-95 south of Atlanta will be halted to help ease potential congestion along evacuation routes.#HurricaneIan @GDOTSW @GeorgiaDOTSE @GDOTWest pic.twitter.com/EjuQCx8Yxg
— Georgia DOT (@GADeptofTrans) September 28, 2022

8:00 p.m.

Metro Atlanta families riding out Hurricane Ian in Central Florida.

Atlanta families stuck in Orlando tonight riding out #hurricaineIan Stocking up on food and water @ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/SLdBz7m8tg
— Chelsea Beimfohr (@chelseabeimfohr) September 28, 2022

7:00 p.m.

Flying into the eye of Ian: Reporter Madeline Montgomery and photojournalist Gary Stillwell traveled to the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, to fly with the “hurricane hunters.”

6:25 p.m.

Trees are down in St. Petersburg.

TREE DOWN: Hurricane Ian ripped this massive oak out of the ground in St. Petersburg.

Yes, there’s a red sports car under there. @ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/NNavrKBBoE
— Patrick Quinn (@PatrickQuinnTV) September 28, 2022

5:35 p.m.

Floridians prepare for Hurricane Ian as it makes landfall

Floridians prepare for Hurricane Ian

5:25 p.m.

Atlanta Public Schools announces it is canceling or postponing all athletic events, after-school activities, and field trips scheduled for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

The school day on Sept. 30 will proceed as normal, in person. District administrators will continue to participate in calls with the National Weather Service and continue to monitor the path of the storm and related weather conditions associated with this evolving situation. Normal operations are anticipated to resume on Oct. 3.

4:30 p.m.

Hall County announces it is activating its Emergency Operations Center at 9 p.m. Sept. 29 and remain activated until the tropical threat passes and impacts to our community have been properly mitigated.

4 p.m.

Hurricane Ian makes landfall in Cayo Costa. Here’s latest on how much it will impact Georgia.

FIRST ALERT: Hurricane Ian makes landfall as a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds in Cayo Costa. Here's the latest on how it will impact Georgia. #FirstAlertATL pic.twitter.com/nr8eZ6Lw0u
— Fred Campagna (@FredCampagna) September 28, 2022

1:15 p.m.

Hurricane Ian is being felt in Florida.

A webcam over Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa captures the impact of Hurricane Ian's strong winds and rain. pic.twitter.com/F8ha2WRUU7
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 28, 2022

12:05 p.m.

Energy crews are being staged in Florida as they monitor the impacts of Hurricane Ian.

This is directly from the @NWS: An extreme wind warning is in effect for Cape Coral FL, Bonita Springs FL, Estero FL until 12:45 PM EDT for extremely dangerous hurricane winds. Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move IMMEDIATELY. pic.twitter.com/hWjEZSap1F
— Mariya Murrow (@mmurrow_tv) September 28, 2022

11:58 a.m.

Reporter Patrick Quinn is in Florida and he is checking on residents and what they are doing in advance of landfall by Hurricane Ian today.

RIGHT NOW: We’ve watched families board up their windows here in St. Pete as the hurricane approaches.

This man said he’s not leaving because “this is his home.”

This area should avoid the worst of Ian, but residents here know they’re not in the clear. @ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/8Jl9XHMRYo
— Patrick Quinn (@PatrickQuinnTV) September 28, 2022

11:19 a.m.

Gov. Kemp visited the Georgia Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday morning after his press conference.

This morning I visited the @GeorgiaEMAHS State Operations Center to thank the hardworking men and women who are closely monitoring Hurricane Ian and preparing for whatever it might bring.
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I encourage all Georgians to remain weather aware in the coming days. https://t.co/XWho9lA1qH pic.twitter.com/v6yhqhWCiB
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) September 28, 2022

11:15 a.m.

Atlanta News First crew headed up in the sky with hurricane hunters. They will be flying through the eye of Hurricane Ian. READ MORE HERE

We’re minutes away from wheels up! Here’s our ride for the next 10 hours. We’ll be going into the eye of #HurricaneIan to track its strength and movements. @ATLNewsFirst @53rdWRS pic.twitter.com/iCzffeK6Px
— Madeline Montgomery (@MadelineTV) September 28, 2022

10:30 a.m.

It appears that the impacts from Hurricane Ian on North Georgia have decreased significantly.

North Georgia impacts from Ian have DECREASED significantly as the path has shifted 150 miles east. Friday now looks dry through 10pm. Rainfall totals way down. Isolated flooding and power outages possible Saturday, mainly in East Georgia. @ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/6VxfadYdv8
— Ella Dorsey (@Ella__Dorsey) September 28, 2022

Storm surge expected to max out between 12-16ft from Englewood to Bonita Beach today. Insane.

For the GA & SC Coastline, storm surge will be between 3-6ft on Friday. pic.twitter.com/FxpW3TaLuP
— Ella Dorsey (@Ella__Dorsey) September 28, 2022

10 a.m.

FEMA provides the latest update on the path of Hurricane Ian.

Team no sleep for #HurricaneIan coverage. We’re flying up into the eye of the storm with @53rdWRS. We’ll have your updates on @ATLNewsFirst. pic.twitter.com/J54uR72nuN
— Madeline Montgomery (@MadelineTV) September 28, 2022

9:40 a.m.

Reporter Rebekka Schramm is giving an update on preparations in Georgia in advance of potential impact from Hurricane Ian.

9:15 a.m.

Atlanta News First Meteorologist Courteney Jacobazzi gives update from Florida.

8:30 a.m.

The eyewall of Hurrican Ian is around 20 miles wide and is moving NNE at 10 mph. Some areas are expecting 120-150 mph winds.

8:20am- The eyewall is around 20miles wide. Moving NNE at 10mph means some areas will be battered with 120-150mph winds for 2 hours. Right now it looks like Naples may be spared- everywhere from Venice to Ft. Myers could get the worst winds. pic.twitter.com/VZrQK8ArnO
— Ella Dorsey (@Ella__Dorsey) September 28, 2022

8:15 a.m.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is talking about the impacts of Hurricane Ian on Georgia and the preparations that are underway.

Hurricane Ian outer rain bands hitting coast of Florida (Courteney Jacobazzi)

Florida prepares for Ian (Courteney Jacobazzi)

8 a.m.

FIRST ALERT: Hurricane Ian to make landfall soon; Rain to start in north Georgia Friday

7:34 a.m.

It is a worst-case scenario for millions of Americans along the SW Florida coastline.

A worst case scenario for millions of Americans along the SW Florida Coastline pic.twitter.com/LE9HMTvIZs
— Ella Dorsey (@Ella__Dorsey) September 28, 2022

Let’s think back to Hurricane Michael, which made landfall with max winds of 162mph. It wiped out Mexico City Beach Florida.

Ian is currently 155mph, and headed directly for highly populated cities in SW Florida.

This is a worst case scenario playing out. pic.twitter.com/JH73cwsKkK
— Ella Dorsey (@Ella__Dorsey) September 28, 2022

#BREAKING: Winds in #Ian now at 155 mph. Currently a category 4 hurricane. If winds reach 157 mph, it will become at cat 5 less than 40 miles off the coast of Florida. #FirstAlertATL pic.twitter.com/XvFuaVKhVm
— Rodney Harris (@RodneyHarrisTV) September 28, 2022

Atlantic coast of Florida and GA will be hit hard with tropical storm conditions on Friday. https://t.co/y9BWF6ktgJ
— Ella Dorsey (@Ella__Dorsey) September 28, 2022

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