Ian has weakened to a Tropical Storm, over sections of Central Florida but is still expected to produce strong winds, heavy rains and storm surge across portions of our state as well as Georgia and the Carolinas as it moves Northeast.

The storm is now putting out maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour.

On the current forecast track, the center of Ian will move off the east-central coast of Florida later today.

The latest from the National Hurricane Center:

SUMMARY OF 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION

----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...28.0N 80.9W

ABOUT 40 MI...70 KM SE OF ORLANDO FLORIDA

ABOUT 35 MI...55 KM SW OF CAPE CANAVERAL FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 40 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...986 MB...29.12 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Hurricane Warnings along the east and west coasts of the

Florida peninsula have been changed to Tropical Storm Warnings.

The Tropical Storm Watch north of Surf City to Cape Lookout, North

Carolina, has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning.

The government of the Bahamas has discontinued the Tropical Storm

Warning for Bimini and Grand Bahama Islands.

The Storm Surge Watch has been discontinued from Suwannee River

south to the Middle of Longboat Key including Tampa Bay.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

* Middle of Longboat Key southward to Flamingo including Charlotte

Harbor

* Flagler/Volusia Line to the mouth of the South Santee River

* St. Johns River

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* North of Bonita Beach to Indian Pass Florida

* Boca Raton Florida to Cape Lookout North Carolina

* Lake Okeechobee

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...

* North of South Santee River to Little River Inlet

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Flagler/Volusia County Line to the South Santee River

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening

inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in

the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please

see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic,

available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation.

Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions

to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for

other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other

instructions from local officials.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are

expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-

threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the

coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible

within the watch area.

Interests elsewhere in eastern North Carolina should monitor the

progress of Ian.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible

inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your

local National Weather Service forecast office.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

----------------------

At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Ian was

located near latitude 28.0 North, longitude 80.9 West. Ian is

moving toward the northeast near 8 mph (13 km/h). A turn toward

the north-northeast is expected later today, followed by a turn

toward the north and north-northwest with an increase in forward

speed Friday and Friday night. On the forecast track, the center

of Ian is expected to move off the east-central coast of Florida

later today and then approach the coast of South Carolina on

Friday. The center will move farther inland across the Carolinas

Friday night and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 65 mph (100 km/h)

with higher gusts. Some slight re-intensification is forecast, and

Ian could be near hurricane strength when it approaches the coast of

South Carolina on Friday. Weakening is expected Friday night and

Saturday after Ian moves inland.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 415 miles (665 km)

from the center. A WeatherFlow station at New Smyrna Beach

recently reported a sustained wind of 61 mph (98 km/h) and a gust

to 77 mph (124 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 986 mb (29.12 inches).

Producer Curtis