Hurricane Ian updates: Florida death toll climbs

Lee County, which encompasses Fort Myers, accounts for most of the fatalities.

The remnants of Ian are charging up the East Coast on Saturday after making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in South Carolina on Friday afternoon.

The monster storm made its first U.S. landfall on Wednesday on Florida's west coast as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, shredding homes with ferocious winds topping 150 mph. Florida's death toll has climbed to at least 81, according to information from local officials.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Sep 27, 2022, 2:28 PM EDT

Orlando’s airport closing Wednesday

The Orlando International Airport said operations will stop at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is closing at 1 p.m. Tuesday while Tampa International Airport is suspending flights at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The arrival and departures board lists numerous flight cancelations at Tampa International Airport before the airport's planned closure ahead of Hurricane Ian, Sept. 27, 2022 in Tampa, Fla.
Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images

The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is closing at 8 p.m. Tuesday while the Melbourne Orlando International Airport will stop flights at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Sep 27, 2022, 11:13 AM EDT

Landfall in Florida forecast for Wednesday afternoon

Hurricane Ian’s track is moving south, with landfall forecast for late afternoon Wednesday between Tampa and Fort Myers as a Category 3 storm.

The storm surge forecast for Tampa Bay has dropped from 10 feet to 8 feet. But now the predicted storm surge for Fort Myers has increased and could be as high as 12 feet.

Sep 27, 2022, 10:15 AM EDT

About 2.5 million Floridians under evacuation orders

As Hurricane Ian heads toward Florida, officials’ main concern is the threat of storm surge and catastrophic flooding, Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.

People place shutters on their homes as they prepare for the possible arrival of Hurricane Ian on Sept. 27, 2022 in St Petersburg, Fla. Ian is expected in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

DeSantis reiterated that there is still time to prepare or evacuate.

About 2.5 million Floridians are under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders, he said.

-ABC News’ Alex Faul

Sep 27, 2022, 9:41 AM EDT

Tornado watches issued in South Florida

Tornado watches have been issued in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Naples and Key West as Hurricane Ian approaches.

The watches are in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A tornado watch has been issued for South Florida through 5 p.m. Tuesday as Hurricane Ian closes in on Florida.
ABC News

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

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