NWS: Confidence increasing that Eastern NC will feel impacts from Hurricane Ian

Ian has strengthened into a Hurricane early this morning, and is expected to rapidly intensify over the next 24 hours into a Major Hurricane. Not much has changed regarding the official track forecast, though confidence is increasing that Eastern NC will feel impacts from this system, with the greatest threats continuing to be heavy rainfall and the potential for flash flooding, as well as coastal flooding.

It is still too early to give specific details regarding severity and timing of the coastal flooding impacts, but we will continue to update as forecast confidence and probabilities increase.

Rainfall totals have increased slightly, and we continue to expect the heaviest rainfall along the coast. However, please be aware that the rainfall forecast is highly dependent on the eventual track and speed of Ian through the Southeast US, and the area of maximum rainfall may shift.

We will monitor the progress and evolution of this system and will provide additional briefings as the forecast warrants.