Ian downgraded to tropical storm

ATLANTA — As powerful Hurricane Ian delivers a catastrophic blow Florida coast, Georgians are bracing for possible impacts later this week.

The latest projections show that Hurricane Ian will cross over Florida and make a second landfall as a tropical storm near Savannah early Friday afternoon.

We have crews headed to the Savannah area, for Channel 2 Action News This Morning.

Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency statewide.

Hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings have already been issued along the Georgia coast.

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Several school districts have moved their planned Friday night football games to Thursday ahead of the storm, which could bring heavy rain and strong wind to parts of Georgia.

Here’s the latest in Georgia:

5:00 a.m.

10:36 p.m.

8:19 p.m.

Ian has weakened to a Category 3 hurricane as it moves further inland with current wind speeds of 115 MPH. Damaging wind gusts, flooding rainfall and isolated tornadoes will continue as the storm moves slowly across Florida.

The storm is expected to move into the Atlantic Ocean as a tropical storm before turning and making a second landfall along the Georgia or South Carolina coast, but will then weaken rapidly as it moves inland.

5:15 p.m.

The latest update from the National Weather Service shows Hurricane Ian will make a second landfall as a tropical storm near Savannah later this week.

5:13 p.m.

Due to forecasted high winds and substantial rain from Hurricane Ian, Atlanta Public Schools is canceling or postponing all athletic events, after-school activities, and field trips scheduled for Friday, September 30, and Saturday, October 1.

The school day on Friday, September 30 will proceed as normal, in person.

4:10 p.m.

Jekyll Island has declared a state of emergency in conjunction with Gov. Kemp’s statewide state of emergency starting Thursday at 7 a.m.

The golf club, tennis center, convention center and several more businesses run by the Jekyll Island Authority are closed.

There are currently no evacuations planned.

11:26 p.m.

AT&T has announced it is waiving talk, text and data overage charges to keep wireless customers connected in areas that may be affected by Hurricane Ian.

10:28 a.m.

Georgia Emergency Management Officials said coastal Georgia can expect a three- to five-foot storm surge, which is similar to what that area saw with Hurricane Irma.

10:22 a.m.

The Georgia Department of Transportation said that starting Wednesday, all projects requiring lane closures along Interstates 16, 75 and 95 south of Atlanta will be halted.

“Additionally, the I-75 South Metro Express Lanes will remain in the northbound direction beginning Wednesday, September 28 until the storm has moved through the area. Georgia’s Express Lanes system accepts the Florida SunPass and the North Carolina Quick Pass,” GDOT officials said.

Welcome centers and rest areas in south, central and coastal Georgia will begin 24-hour operations on Wednesday.

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10:12 a.m.

The Atlanta Motor Speedway is offering discounted rates for Florida evacuees. Officials told Channel 2 Action News that several evacuees have already set up camp there.

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