Hurricane Ian Blasts Florida's West Coast as Category 4 Storm

Hurricane Ian made landfall on Florida's west coast as a Category 4 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon, bringing with it powerful winds, heavy rain, and storm surge.

The storm made landfall near Cayo Costa, a barrier island south of Fort Myers, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Ian is the first major hurricane to hit the US since Hurricane Michael devastated Florida's Panhandle in 2018.

The storm has already caused widespread damage, with power outages reported in more than 2 million homes and businesses in Florida. Ian is also expected to bring heavy rainfall to the state, with some areas expected to receive up to 2 feet of rain.

The storm surge, a wall of water pushed ahead of the hurricane, is also a major concern. The National Hurricane Center has warned that the storm surge could reach up to 12 feet in some areas. This could cause significant flooding in coastal communities.

Ian is expected to weaken as it moves inland, but it is still likely to bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

The storm is also expected to bring heavy rain to the state, with some areas expected to receive up to 2 feet of rain.

The storm surge, a wall of water pushed ahead of the hurricane, is also a major concern. The National Hurricane Center has warned that the storm surge could reach up to 12 feet in some areas. This could cause significant flooding in coastal communities.

Ian is expected to weaken as it moves inland, but it is still likely to bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.