Local

TRACKING IAN: Tropical storm warnings end

Hurricane Ian’s center came ashore near Georgetown, South Carolina, on Friday.

The storm left many areas of Charleston’s downtown peninsula underwater. It also washed way parts of four piers along the coast, including at Myrtle Beach.

>> For a list of current weather alerts: CLICK HERE.

Ian moved across South Carolina on its way to North Carolina Friday evening and continued to weaken to a post-tropical cyclone.

To stay on top of changing weather conditions, be sure to download our free WSOC-TV weather app.

Duke Energy reported late Friday night that there were more than 339,000 customer outages in the Carolinas: 327,220 in North Carolina and 11,926 in South Carolina.

Most of the outages were in Mecklenburg, Wake, Guilford and Durham counties. There were more than 10,000 outages in Mecklenburg County.

UPDATES:

11 p.m.

Forecast update from Severe Weather Center 9

  • All tropical storm warnings have been discontinued.
  • For the remainder of the overnight, it will be breezy, cool and rainy, especially in the mountains.
  • Meanwhile, Ian is no more.
  • The center of circulation was near Raleigh late Friday night and will slowly drift north.
  • It will be cloudy and cool Saturday with scattered showers.

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8:35 p.m.

A flash flood warning was issued for Stanly County until 11:30 p.m. Friday.

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8:15 p.m.

Total power outages as of 8:15 p.m. Friday, is 290,394, NC Emergency Management reported. The majority of the outages are in Wake, Guilford, Mecklenburg and Durham counties.

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6 p.m.

The remnants of Hurricane Ian brought downed trees, power lines and flooded streets as it made its way across North Carolina and South Carolina. We have had crews on the ground tracking every development of the storm.

Channel 9′s Jonathan Lows was in Charleston County when Ian made a second landfall around 2 p.m. Friday in Georgetown, South Carolina. He saw downed trees, power lines and floodwaters moving into downtown.

Closer to home, counties east of Charlotte experienced very heavy rain and high winds. Flooding and power outages in the area remain a threat into the evening.

Severe Weather Center 9 reported wind gusts in Charlotte reached at least 46 mph, leading to several reports of trees downed. One of the first reports of a downed tree was one that split in half and fell onto a car and home in east Charlotte. Nobody was hurt in the incident.

In our local South Carolina counties, strong wind and flooding was also a major concern. Several Channel 9 crews also reported fallen trees in the Palmetto State.

>> Channel 9 will continue to have LIVE team coverage across the Carolinas and from Severe Weather Center 9 through Friday night. Watch Eyewitness News NOW for the latest updates.

5:59 p.m.

5:52 p.m.

Watch Chief Meteorologist Steve Udelson’s Friday evening forecast update below:

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5:13 p.m.

According to Charlotte Fire, firefighters have responded to 39 storm-related emergencies since 3 p.m. Thursday.

Officials said storm-related damages consist of trees down on homes, roads and power lines. No injuries have been reported.

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4:58 p.m.

Ian is no longer a hurricane and has been downgraded to a Post-Tropical Cyclone.

4:48 p.m.

According to Duke Energy, there are 4,266 customers without power in Mecklenburg County.

For a full list of outages, click here.

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3:30 pm.

According to Duke Energy, there are 4,404 customers without power in Mecklenburg County.

For a full list of outages, click here.

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South Carolina’s state agencies said they are prepared and responding to Hurricane Ian as it makes landfall in South Carolina.

“A lot of prayers have been answered -- this storm is not as bad as it could have been, but don’t let your guard down yet,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “We are not out of the woods yet, there is water on the roads, still heavy winds, and it is still dangerous in many parts of the state.”

Information and warnings for South Carolina residents from McMaster:

  • Residents in low-lying areas prone to flooding, particularly along the coast, should have a plan to move to higher ground if their homes become unsafe.
  • Stay tuned to local television and radio stations for emergency information. Be sure to keep a battery operated, solar-powered, or hand-crank-operated radio or television for use during power outages.
  • Stay inside a well-constructed building away from the windows and the doors, even if they are covered. Go to an interior first-floor room, closet, or under the stairs.
  • Be alert. Tornadoes are very often spawned during hurricanes. If the “eye” of the storm passes over your area, be aware that dangerous conditions will return with winds from the other direction in a very short time.
  • Limit non-emergency calls. Be sure to keep calls brief to minimize any network congestion. Wait at least 10 seconds before redialing a call. For non-emergencies, try sending text messages.
  • Avoid travel as the storm makes its way across the state
  • Be aware that high winds may delay EMS services from responding immediately during the storm until it is safe for them to do so.
  • Consumers should notify their utilities of any outages and stay away from downed power lines. Restoration efforts are underway but, due to safety concerns, where winds exceed 30 mph, crews will pause operations.

2:43 p.m.

Gov. Roy Cooper is urging North Carolinians to be safe and cautious during heavy rainfall, possible flooding and power outages as Hurricane Ian bears down on the state.

“Our message today is simple. Be smart and be safe. We’ve faced storms like this before and we know what to do,” Cooper said. “Especially this weekend, I appreciate the efforts of emergency management officials, our national guard, state highway patrol and other first responders to keep people safe.”

Widespread rainfall amounts of two to six inches are expected across North Carolina going into early Saturday with locally higher totals up to eight inches. This rainfall could lead to flash flooding, coastal storm surge, landslides in the mountains and rising rivers. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for all of North Carolina except southwestern portions of the state.

Gusty winds will continue on Friday, peaking in the afternoon and into the overnight hours going into Saturday. Western North Carolina could see gusts of up to 35-55 miles per hour. Most North Carolina counties are under a Wind Advisory into Saturday.

Cooper said more than 10,000 utility workers in the Carolinas are ready to respond to power outages when it’s safe to do so. More than 2,200 NCDOT officials prepared equipment and are on standby waiting to respond around-the-clock later today and into this weekend. Crews fueled up and prepared more than 221 motor graders, 376 backhoes and loaders, 1,440 chainsaws and 1,368 trucks to cut and shove downed trees and debris from roads.

Residents are advised to stay aware and keep a watch on the forecast for Friday and over the weekend. State officials advise these tips to make sure your family is personally prepared:

  • Have multiple ways to receive emergency info, including watches and warnings. Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your cell phone and download a weather app.
  • Have an emergency plan. Know where you would go if you need to evacuate. Make a plan to stay with family, friends or at a hotel. Public shelters should be a last resort.
  • Gather some emergency supplies or refresh your emergency kit. Visit ReadyNC.gov for info on how to build an emergency kit.
  • If you live at the coast, you should know if you live in a coastal evacuation zone. Visit KnowYourZone.nc.gov to see if you are in a pre-determined evacuation zone. Learn your zone and listen for it if evacuations are ordered by local governments.
  • Check to see if your community offers emergency alert services for its residents.
  • Avoid unnecessary travel.

2:31 p.m.

2:19 p.m.

Thousands of people across Charlotte are without power due to downed trees.

  • In Westerly Hilly, 413 customers are without power.
  • 117 customers are without power off Providence Road due to downed trees and/or limbs.
  • 166 customers are without power in the Stonehaven neighborhood between Monroe Road and Rama Road.

For a full list of outages, click here.

2:16 p.m.

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Hurricane Ian has made landfall in Georgetown, SC as a Category 1 storm.

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Three lanes of outbound I-277 near West 12th Street in Charlotte were closed for several hours due to a loose overhead sign, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. NCDOT crews responded to the scene to make repairs.

The road has since reopened.

>> Click here for alternate routes using our LIVE Traffic Map.

12 p.m.

Channel 9 has crews on the ground across the Carolinas as Hurricane Ian makes its way across South Carolina and North Carolina.

Reporter Jonathan Low is in Charleston County, where he is tracking road and beach conditions. He said the water has slowly been rising and winds have been pushing that water further into downtown.

In Lancaster County, Almiya White has started to see power outages, strong wind and rain. She said emergency officials are continuing to prepare for flooding as the rain picks up.

Closer to Charlotte, Channel 9′s Ken Lemon was in northwest Charlotte where residents are also concerned about potential flooding.

To help monitor water levels, North Carolina has rolled out a new system to track water levels in creeks and streams. Anthony Kustura was in west Charlotte Friday morning, where NCDOT said Stewart Creek has started to rise by several inches.

>> Our crews will continue to track developments throughout the day. Watch Eyewitness News for the latest updates.

Watch Meteorologist Keith Monday’s afternoon forecast update below:

11:55 a.m.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and emergency management officials are holding a news conference at 12:30 p.m. on Hurricane Ian’s impact on the state.

At 2 p.m., North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and emergency management officials will be speaking about severe weather as the remnants of Hurricane Ian move through.

>> Watch both news conferences on Eyewitness News.

11:50 a.m.

Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura is tracking water levels in local creeks and streams as Hurricane Ian moves in. Watch his update below.

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11 a.m.

The Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency said it has responded to 15 crashes since midnight. Most of them have been single-vehicle crashes.

Officials remind drivers to slow down and to not overestimate the wet roads.

10:57 a.m. update

A Channel 9 crew responded to downed trees near Tyrone Drive in east Charlotte.

9:35 a.m. update

At least 276 flights to and from Charlotte Douglas International Airport were canceled Friday morning, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

9 a.m. forecast update

  • Rain from Ian started up Friday morning, but the heaviest rains will move in later in the afternoon and evening.
  • Winds are breezy now, but those will also increase as the day goes on -- to over 40 mph.
  • Rain totals could reach 4 inches or more in spots, especially east of Charlotte.
  • Flooding is a risk area-wide, but the higher risk is east with those higher totals.
  • Strong winds could lead to trees down and power outages.
  • The worst weather lasts into the night and then starts to wind down near midnight.
  • There is still rain in the forecast for Saturday, but no longer a flooding risk. The winds also relax Friday night.
  • Ian will make landfall between Charleston and Myrtle Beach Friday afternoon.

>> Channel 9′s Weather 24/7 stream has the latest local weather all day, every day. Watch wherever you stream — on our website, or through your mobile app or smart TV.

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