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:
Ian now 75 mph Category 1 hurricane, expected to become tropical storm later this morning
As of the 2 a.m. ET advisory this morning, Ian continues to maintain its hurricane status.
However, it has weakened to a 75 mph Category 1 hurricane and is expected to become a tropical storm later this morning before emerging off of Florida’s east coast.
Ian’s new track will be issued and updated again at 5 a.m. ET.
-ABC News' Riley Winch
2.3 million customers without power, Florida providers say
Florida's electric providers said more than 2.3 million customers were without power at about 2 a.m. local time.
Florida Power & Light, the state's largest provider, reported more than 1.1 million outages for its 5.7 million customers.
“Hurricane Ian’s catastrophic winds will mean parts of our system will need to be rebuilt -- not restored,” the company said on Twitter late Wednesday. “Be prepared for widespread, extended outages as we are assessing the damage. We are already at work restoring power where we can do so safely.”
-ABC News’ Keith Harden
Portions of Fort Myers under up to 4 feet of water
Portions of Fort Myers are under up to 4 feet of water, the city said late Wednesday night, and residents are being told to stay inside as first responders try and assess the damage from Hurricane Ian.
"We need to ensure that the roads are clear so that our first responders and our assistance crews can go out there and help everyone that needs us," the city wrote on Twitter. "PLEASE, please, please stay inside."
Jacksonville airport cancels all flights Thursday
Jacksonville International Airport has canceled all flights for Thursday and the terminal will be closed.
-ABC News' Ahmad Hemingway
18 feet of storm surge possible
Up to 18 feet of dangerous storm surge is forecast along Florida’s Southwest coast, including Englewood, Bonita Beach and Charlotte Harbor.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell warned Tuesday that her biggest concern with Ian was storm surge.
"In 2018, when Hurricane Michael impacted the Florida Panhandle, there were five recorded fatalities as a result of storm surge,” she noted.