WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Ian has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continues to churn over Florida.
According to the 5 a.m. Thursday advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Ian is packing maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, traveling north/northeast at 9 mph as it moves over Osceola County.
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
Ian made landfall as an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane near Cayo Costa with 150 mph winds.
Tropical storm-force winds will linger until the afternoon in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, but the tropical storm warning for Palm Beach County has been discontinued.
The hurricane watch and tropical storm warning for Lake Okeechobee have been discontinued.
"It's really weakening. It's lost that warm water of the Gulf of Mexico, which really feeds into this hurricane," WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologist Steve Weagle said.
The center of Ian is expected to move across central Florida Thursday morning and emerge over the western Atlantic Ocean by late Thursday.
Ian is forecast to turn northward on Friday and approach the northeastern Florida coast, Georgia and South Carolina coasts.
Further weakening is expected for the next day or so, but Ian could be near hurricane strength when it moves over the Florida East coast Thursday, and when it approaches the northeastern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina coasts on Friday.
Outer bands of Hurricane Ian produced tornadoes across parts of South Florida on Tuesday night. There are several reports of tornado damage in Palm Beach and Broward counties, including a possible tornado that injured two people in Delray Beach.
Another storm cell hit Wellington late Tuesday night, causing downed trees and shattered windows.
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
"[Wednesday night] along the Treasure Coast, we could have wind gusts over 50 mph, maybe up to 60 mph," WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologist Steve Villanueva said.
Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast are also currently under a flood watch.
A hurricane warning is in effect for:
- Chokoloskee to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay
- Sebastian Inlet to Flagler/Volusia County Line
A storm surge warning is in effect for:
- Suwannee River southward to Flamingo
- Tampa Bay
- Flagler/Volusia Line to the mouth of the South Santee River
- St. Johns River
A tropical storm warning is in effect for:
- Palm Beach County
- Martin County
- St. Lucie County
- Indian River County
- Indian Pass to the Anclote River
- Boca Raton to Sebastian Inlet
- Flagler/Volusia County Line to Surf City
- Flamingo to Chokoloskee
- Lake Okeechobee
- Bimini and Grand Bahama Islands
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 Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- North of Surf City to Cape Lookout
