Hurricane Ian's Path, Tracker Laid Out as Carolinas Brace for Impact

After pummeling Florida on Wednesday and Thursday, Ian has restrengthened to a hurricane over the Atlantic Ocean, now threatening to trigger dangerous flooding in North and South Carolina.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded Ian back to a hurricane Thursday after it weakened to tropical storm status. After leaving millions without power and submerging communities on Florida's peninsula, authorities in the Carolinas are warning residents to take caution. The storm is expected to strike South Carolina early Friday and linger through Saturday before crawling into North Carolina. However, the reinvigorated Ian is not expected to bring the same level of destruction as it continues northward.

Philip Klotzbach, a meteorologist specializing in Atlantic Ocean hurricanes at Colorado State University, posted a forecast image to Twitter showing Ian now north of Florida and expected to become the first hurricane to make landfall in South Carolina since Matthew in 2016.

Klotzbach told Newsweek in an interview that Ian is stronger but "not a lot stronger" and that while hurricanes can strengthen over the ocean, they weaken over land. As Ian again makes landfall, the conditions aren't likely for it to gain strength, he said.

"We certainly don't expect 150 mph sustained winds," he said referring to the Category 4 conditions Ian brought to Florida.

Klotzbach said a weakened Ian won't bring the 12-foot-high storm surges seen in Florida or the catastrophic flooding in Fort Myers. But he said that a Category 1 hurricane can deliver heavy rains, downed trees, flooding and a potential loss of life. There are also homes in South Carolina at risk of flooding from less severe storm surges, he said.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency. At a press conference Thursday, though, he said he hasn't ordered any evacuations or state government closures.

McMaster said Ian's strong winds will blow the storm all over the state after its expected arrival at 8 a.m. Friday. He urged residents to pay attention to the conditions in their area, stay inside, not to drive on flooded roads and to stay in touch with loved ones. McMaster said the biggest concern is "human error and people taking chances."

"We know we can handle this if we use our heads and follow the rules," he said.

The NHC said in an update that Ian could slightly strengthen before landfall and that maximum sustained winds have increased to 75 mph. After reaching South Carolina, Ian is forecast to "rapidly weaken" late Friday into Saturday, according to the update.

Klotzbach said he doesn't expect North Carolina to be as affected, but authorities in the state are still preparing.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said on Twitter that the state is still expecting for heavy rains, wind and potential landslides. Cooper mentioned how 13 months ago, Tropical Storm Fred killed six people and damaged 125 homes in the state.