After making landfall in southwest Florida on Wednesday afternoon and being downgraded to a tropical storm on Thursday traversing the central part of the state, Ian entered the Atlantic Ocean the overnight and strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane as it barreled toward South Carolina.

Heavy rain and high winds are beginning to hit South Carolina and North Carolina coasts early Friday as the dangerous storm is located about 140 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. The storm is moving north-northeast at 9 mph; Ian has maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

The Carolinas are expected to experience “life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions” today as the storm is expected to make landfall this afternoon.