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.


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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


Cuba without power in wake of Hurricane Ian: Reports

Cuba has lost power after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the island Tuesday, according to reports.

The country's Electric Union said it's working to restore service overnight to 11 million people, The Associated Press reported. The Cuban News Agency had initially reported there is no power.

There is "0 electricity generation" in the country, according to a National Electric System update. "This complicated condition is also associated with complex weather conditions that have affected the SEN infrastructure," the update said.

-ABC News' Mara Valdes, Darren Reynolds