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Ian becomes post-tropical as it moves inland | Limited impacts for North Georgia

The storm moves inland after making landfall Friday near Georgetown, SC as a category one hurricane

ATLANTA — Ian made its final landfall Friday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. near Georgetown, SC. It is a category one hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and gusts to 105 mph.

With the track having shifted progressively further east each day this week, our impacts for north Georgia have become less and less.

The latest update from Ian, shows the storm has lost tropical characteristics and is now a post-tropical cyclone with 70 mph sustained winds.

Credit: WXIA

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What To Expect: North Georgia impacts from Ian

Because the storm continues to shift further and further east, we will see little impact from Ian. On the left side of the storm, we're on the cleaner side. The extent westward of rain impacts are smaller than on the storm's eastern side.

The biggest difference the next couple of days will be gusty winds at times, especially out in eastern Georgia closer to the storm. There is a Wind Advisory for our eastern counties, where gusts 30 to 40 mph will be possible.

Credit: WXIA

Rain chances look minimal. There is a slight chance Friday PM through Saturday AM of a few showers, mainly well east and northeast of the Atlanta metro.

We do not expect accumulating rain in the Atlanta metro. Far eastern Georgia could pick very minor, light accumulations.

Credit: WXIA

Timeline

Friday Night:  Most showers stay east of the metro. A few showers in far east and northeast Georgia. Breezy with gusts around 20 - 25 mph. Higher east.

Credit: WXIA

Saturday Morning: Low risk for a shower early north and east of Atlanta.  Ian's remnants race northward taking the moisture with it. 

Credit: WXIA

Saturday Afternoon: Clearing skies. Still breezy at times. Ian tracks further away up through the Mid-Atlantic.

Credit: WXIA

Saturday Night: Clearing and cooler.

Credit: WXIA

Sunday: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Overall a pleasant fall day.

Credit: WXIA

Why we won't see high impacts

When it comes to impact from landfalling tropical systems, location relative to the center of circulation matters. While every part of a hurricane is dangerous, the "dirty side" refers to the side of a hurricane or tropical system where you find the highest winds, highest storm surge, and the greatest tornado threat.

In a tropical system moving north like Hurricane Ian, the "dirty side" is the northeastern quadrant.

Credit: WXIA

Why does this happen?

Tropical systems in the northern hemisphere rotate counterclockwise.  As Hurricane Ian moves forward to the north, the winds on the right side are moving in the same direction as the storm. This accelerates wind speeds.

On the left side, winds are moving in the opposite direction of the storm. This slows down wind speeds.

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