Tropical Storm Ian formed on September 23rd, 2022 and tracked east across the Caribbean Sea for several days.
Ian strengthened into a hurricane early on September 26th. Ian began rapidly intensifying and twelve hours later became a category two storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph.
Early on September 27th, Hurricane Ian strengthened to a category three, major hurricane just prior to making landfall in western Cuba. Ian weakened slightly as it passed over Cuba.
As Hurricane Ian re-entered open waters, this time over the Gulf of Mexico, the storm began quickly re-intensifying. In the morning of September 28th, Ian became a category four hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph.
Hurricane Ian made landfall in Cayo Costa, Florida as a category four storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph.
The National Hurricane Center’s final report on Ian designates it a Category 5 storm, as its wind speed peaked at 161 mph before making landfall in southwestern Florida on Sept. 28, 2022.
Ian’s deadliest attribute was storm surge, with 41 total reported casualties from storm surge. Ian caused Florida $109.5 billion in damages, which makes it the costliest hurricane in Florida history, and the third costliest hurricane in the history of the United States, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Visit the National Hurricane Center for updated information and forecasts on Hurricane Ian.
Satellite animations of this event:
Hover over the boxes to play. Click the images to view enlarged
Hurricane Ian's Full Journey
Description:
Hurricane Ian’s full journey across the Caribbean, through the Gulf of Mexico, and into the Southeast U.S.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall Near Georgetown, South Carolina
Description:
Hurricane Ian makes landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina as a category one storm.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
Hurricane Ian Approaches South Carolina and Second U.S. Landfall
Description:
As a category one storm, Hurricane Ian makes its approach to South Carolina and its second U.S. landfall.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
Ian Regains Hurricane Strength
Description:
Ian regains hurricane status off the coast of Florida.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
Ian's Low Level Circulation Peeking Through
Description:
Ian’s low level circulation peaking through clouds above, as it moves north into the Atlantic Ocean.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
Ian Re-Emerges Over the Atlantic
Description:
After moving through Florida, Ian moves re-emerges over the Atlantic Ocean.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Geocolor
Hurricane Ian's Full Evolution Before and After its Florida Landfall
Description:
A high resolution view of Hurricane Ian’s full evolution before and after landfall in Florida.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
Hurricane Ian Landfalls in Cayo Costa, Florida
Description:
Hurricane Ian makes landfall in Cayo Costa, Florida as a category four storm.
Satellite: GOES-16
Extraordinary Amount of Lightning Surrounding Hurricane Ian's Eye
Description:
An extraordinary amount of lightning surrounding Hurricane Ian as it approaches landfall in Florida.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)
Dangerous, Category Four Hurricane Ian Nears Florida
Description:
A dangerous, category four Hurricane Ian nears the Florida coastline.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
Hurricane Ian Approaches Florida
Description:
The sun sets on Hurricane Ian as it continues its Florida approach.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
Hurricane Ian's Full Day Evolution Over the Gulf of Mexico
Description:
A ten hour, high resolution time lapse of Hurricane Ian over the Gulf of Mexico.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
The Lightning within Hurricane Ian as it Treks over Gulf of Mexico
Description:
Lightning within Hurricane Ian as it tracks over the Gulf of Mexico.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)
The Impressive, Clear Eye of Hurricane Ian
Description:
Hurricane Ian’s impressive and clear eye over the Gulf of Mexico.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
Hurricane Ian's Lightning-Packed Eye Wall
Description:
A powerful Hurricane Ian and its eye wall packed with lightning.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)
Hurricane Ian's Eye Clears
Description:
Hurricane Ian eye clears out as it intensifies over the Gulf of Mexico.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
Hurricane Ian's Explosive Development Into A Major Hurricane
Description:
Hurricane Ian rapidly intensifying from a tropical storm to a major hurricane.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Infrared (band 11)
Hurricane Ian Becomes a Major Hurricane, Approaches on Cuba
Description:
Hurricane Ian strengthens to a category three hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Infrared (band 11)
High Resolution, Thirty-Second Imagery of Hurricane Ian
Description:
A high resolution view of Hurricane Ian in the Caribbean.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
Sunset on Hurricane Ian as it Approaches Cuba
Description:
Hurricane Ian continues to track north as it approaches Cuba.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
Hurricane Ian Strengthens to A Category Two Storm
Description:
Hurricane Ian strengthens to a category two storm as it approaches Cuba.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Infrared (band 11)
Hurricane Ian Tracks North in Caribbean
Description:
A strengthening Hurricane Ian tracks north in the Caribbean.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor
Hurricane Ian Intensifies in the Caribbean
Description:
Hurricane Ian approaches category two strength in the Caribbean Sea.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
Tropical Storm Ian Bubbling in the Caribbean Sea
Description:
A seven hour time lapse of Tropical Storm Ian’s convection bubbling in the Caribbean Sea.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
Tropical Storm Ian Slowly Organizing
Description:
Tropical Storm Ian slowly organizing and strengthening in the southern Caribbean Sea.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor, GLM Group Energy Density
Tropical Storm Ian Forms in the Southern Caribbean Sea
Description:
Convection within the newly-formed Tropical Storm Ian.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GeoColor, GLM Group Energy Density
Lightning and Convection within Tropical Depression Nine
Description:
The lightning and convection within Tropical Depression Nine, a developing system.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)
Convection Fires In 98L
Description:
Deep convection fires within a tropical area of interest, 98L.
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Infrared (band 11)
Low Level Circulation of 98L Exposed
Description:
An area of low-level circulation associated with 98L, peeking through the upper level clouds
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: Visible (band 2)
Tropical Wave Being Closely Monitored for Future Development
Satellite: GOES-16
Product: GLM Group Energy Density, Visible (band 2)