Update (1510ET):

Accuweather has declared Hurricane Ian made landfall around 1420 ET on North Captiva Island, a barrier island just west of Fort Myers, Florida. The storm came ashore with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph.

This is absolutely shocking… 

Horrific scene in Matlacha/Pine Island, Florida where storm surge and strong Cat 4 winds from #HurricaneIan has battered the small island community. pic.twitter.com/cdmKQLjYd5

— Alejandro Galiano ❁ (@havanahistory) September 28, 2022

Naples. Houses are moving pic.twitter.com/nFVY9oP1y4

— reallyryanbush (new acct) (@reallyryanbush) September 28, 2022

Fort Myers, Florida #hurricaineIan #USA pic.twitter.com/XM1vU42IRP #BreakingNews

— Javi (@Javiergg9885) September 28, 2022

Storm surge outside of my moms house on Fort Myers Beach. I’m so sick. pic.twitter.com/12ujJqmacH

— Beth (@itsbethbooker) September 28, 2022

Homes float away, several others damaged, as #Ian hammers Fort Myers Beach, #Florida. Over 5,24,000 homes and businesses without power in Florida#FLwx #HurricaneIan #Hurricane #FortMyers #Huracan #Cubano #LeeCounty #Viral #Climate #Rain #Storm #Tropicswx VC: Loni Architects pic.twitter.com/NFaJKWrkEo

— Earth42morrow (@Earth42morrow) September 28, 2022

WATCH: A Lee’s Summit couple on vacation on an island off Fort Myers, Florida, is stranded there as #HurricaneIan ravages the state with catastrophic storm surges. Story: https://t.co/CvTQQHxLqi pic.twitter.com/uYuLKKIPod

— KCTV5 News (@KCTV5) September 28, 2022

Storm surge in Fort Myers looks like a yacht has broken free and is roaming the streets. #hurricanian #ianhurricane #Ian pic.twitter.com/Wfbn9MFB7p

— Jayden X (@nojaydenx) September 28, 2022

Sharknado?

The storm surge is so powerful from #HurricaneIan that it has brought a shark into the city streets of Fort Myers. @BradHabuda pic.twitter.com/RHY0kK5RHR

— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) September 28, 2022

* * * 

Update (1247ET): 

The National Weather Service reports powerful Hurricane Ian is nearing landfall on the southwest coast of Florida. NWS expects “catastrophic storm surge and wind damage” will occur across Charlotte County, just north of Fort Myers. 

Recent readings showed Ian had sustained winds of 155 mph, only 2 mph shy of a Category 5 storm. As of 1144 ET, the storm’s “outer eyewall” was about 20 miles from land, according to meteorologist Jason Boyer. 

Hurricane #Ian is slowing down as it nears landfall in SW FL. . The outer eye wall is 20 miles from mainland FL. . The storm remains intense, nearing category 5 (157+mph) strength. #flwx pic.twitter.com/TYECXi5JcP

— Jason Boyer (@JasonBoyerWLOS) September 28, 2022

NWS provided satellite footage of Ian encompassing nearly the whole state of Florida. 

NWS shows a 12-18 feet storm surge forecasted for Charlotte County. 

Horrifying videos have been posted on social media showing Ian’s wrath ahead of landfall expected this afternoon. 

Incredible video from Sanibel Island in Florida as Hurricane Ian moves in around midday Wednesday. The worst is yet to come unfortunately. #flwx #HurricaneIan pic.twitter.com/8rq2XAwoaY

— Joliet Weather Center (@JolietWeather) September 28, 2022

LAST MOMENTS OF SANIBEL ISLAND SURGE PACK: Unfortunately, our @cyclonePORT was taken by the extreme winds and storm surge just moments ago. Here are the last moments on camera. @ryanhallyall pic.twitter.com/02a8hl4x2L

— RadarOmega (@RadarOmega) September 28, 2022

Lanai sent airborne in Cape Coral, Florida by Hurricane #Ian‘s winds. Video sent in by a WINK viewer pic.twitter.com/TrbmocjL9A

— Nash Rhodes (@NashWX) September 28, 2022

Sparks and flames explode from downed power lines in Naples, Florida, ahead of Hurricane Ian. LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/pprirarnV5 pic.twitter.com/xs6iAmeVKE

— ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2022

Currently in Fort Myers, Florida. Video by Loni Architects #flwx #Ian #hurricane pic.twitter.com/8nfncFlG9G

— Kaitlin Wright (@wxkaitlin) September 28, 2022

From NBC2’s camera, there is a significant amount of storm surge inundation at Naples Grande, FL.#flwx #weather #Ian pic.twitter.com/mwhNt4O6Iy

— Weather Track US (@weathertrackus) September 28, 2022

Live video on @weatherchannel shows dangerous storm surge from #Hurricane Ian making landfall in Fort Myers, #Florida. Even worse, much severe storm surge is yet to come.#Ian #FLwx #HurricaneIan @CollinGrossWx pic.twitter.com/Zjd1C19ad5

— Dena Grayson, MD, PhD (@DrDenaGrayson) September 28, 2022

Dangerous and damaging storm Surge in Naples, FL from Naples Fire Dept. #HurricaneIan #flwx pic.twitter.com/ctpi0GcnQe

— Mike Clay (@Mike_Clay) September 28, 2022

*RARE* first person view of storm surge. This camera is 6 feet off the ground on Estero Blvd in Fort Myers Beach, FL. Not sure how much longer it keeps working. You’ll see it live only on ⁦@weatherchannel⁩ #Ian pic.twitter.com/WwHtvgVxjY

— Mike Bettes (@mikebettes) September 28, 2022

Fort Myers, Florida #hurricaineIan #USA pic.twitter.com/XM1vU42IRP #BreakingNews

— Javi (@Javiergg9885) September 28, 2022

* * *

Update (0739ET): 

Hurricane Ian continues to strengthen ahead of landfall. As of 0733 ET, the National Hurricane Center said Ian’s sustained maximum winds were 155 mph, just 2 mph shy of a Cat. 5 storm. 

* * * 

Hurricane Ian strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm expected to make landfall on Florida’s southwest coast today and then traverse central Florida and emerge in the Atlantic by Thursday. 

At 0500 ET, the National Hurricane Center said Ian sustained maximum winds of 140 mph and gusts up to 165 mph. The storm’s center was about 75 miles west-southwest of Naples and 105 miles south-southwest of Punta Gorda, moving north-northeast at 10 mph. 

Ian’s path has shifted south of Tampa Bay, and landfall is now expected between Fort Myers and Sarasota on Wednesday morning or early afternoon before moving across the central part of the state. 

NHC warned a “life-threatening storm surge is expected along the Florida west coast and the Lower Florida Keys,” with “devastating wind damage” expected near Ian’s center.

“Catastrophic flooding is expected across portions of central Florida with considerable flooding in southern Florida, northern Florida, southeastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina,” the weather agency continued.

“It’s going to be historic,” National Weather Service Melbourne meteorologist Kole Fehling in Melbourne, referring to the storm’s landfall impacts. 

Fehling said Central Florida could be swamped with 15 to 20 inches of rainfall, with some areas receiving upwards of 24 inches. 

On Tuesday night, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told residents: 

Millions of Floridians are under evacuation orders or advisories as DeSantis activated the National Guard earlier this week before the storm’s arrival. 

There are notable economic impacts due to adverse weather conditions in the region. On Tuesday evening, US energy companies idled 190,000 barrels of daily crude production, some 11% of US Gulf of Mexico output. 

Bloomberg pointed out that the “nation’s production of phosphate fertilizer” is in the storm’s path. 

Chuck Watson, a disaster modeler with Enki Research, said Mosaic’s New Wales plant is “right in the middle of the damage swath,” adding the facility “could be out for weeks.” 

Bloomberg said Ian could cause $45 billion in damage, which would make it one of the most costly storms in the country’s history. 

By late Tuesday, over 2,000 flights to and from Florida were canceled. Flight delays and cancelations could spill over to the rest of the country.