Ian has regained strength and become a hurricane again. The storm is taking aim at the Carolinas and Georgia with life-threatening flooding, storm surge, and strong winds.

Here's the latest position and speed:

LOCATION...29.3N 79.9W

ABOUT 240 MI...390 KM S OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA

ABOUT 335 MI...540 KM SSW OF CAPE FEAR NORTH CAROLINA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 30 DEGREES AT 10 MPH...17 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...986 MB...29.12 INCHES

Watches and Warnings:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

* Flagler/Volusia Line to Cape Fear

* Neuse River

* St. Johns River

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Savannah River to Cape Fear

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Vero Beach Florida to Savannah River

* Cape Fear to Duck North Carolina

* Pamlico Sound

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...

* North of Cape Fear to Duck North Carolina

* Pamlico River

* Cape Fear River

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Flagler/Volusia County Line to the Savannah River

* East of Cape Fear to Surf City

At 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Ian was located near latitude 29.3 North, longitude 79.9 West. Ian is moving toward the north-northeast near 10 mph (17 km/h). A turn toward the north is expected tonight, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest with an increase in forward speed Friday night. On the forecast track, Ian will approach the coast of South Carolina on Friday. The center will move farther inland across the Carolinas Friday night and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Ian could slightly strengthen before landfall tomorrow, and is forecast to rapidly weaken over the southeastern United States late Friday into Saturday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 415 miles (665 km). Kennedy Space Center Tower 1 recently reported a wind gust to 89 mph (145 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 986 mb (29.12 inches).

STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide.

* Edisto Beach to Murrells Inlet...4-7 ft

* Flagler/Volusia County Line to Edisto Beach...4-6 ft

* Murrells Inlet to Cape Fear...3-5 ft

* Cape Fear River...2-4 ft

* St. Johns River...2-4 ft

* East of Cape Fear to Duck, including Pamlico and

Neuse Rivers...2-4 ft

* Patrick Air Force Base to Flagler/Volusia County Line...1-3 ft

* Albemarle Sound...1-2 ft

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected to begin in the Hurricane Warning area starting early Friday, with tropical storm conditions beginning overnight. Tropical storm conditions are now occurring in parts of the warning area on the east coasts of Florida and should spread northward along the Georgia and North Carolina coasts today through Friday. Hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area in northeastern Florida and Georgia today into Friday, and in the watch area in North Carolina on Friday morning.

RAINFALL: Ian is expected to produce the following storm total rainfall:

* Coastal Georgia: 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts.

* Northeast South Carolina: 4 to 8 inches, with local maxima of 12

inches

* Upstate and central South Carolina, North Carolina, and southern

Virginia: 3 to 6 inches with local maxima of 8 inches across

northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia.

Michelle Fay