AT 5AM EDT, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IAN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 30.8° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 79.1° WEST,OR ABOUT 225 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF CAPE FEAR, NORTH CAROLINA OR ABOUT 145 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IAN IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 9 MPH.  A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED THIS MORNING, FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST BY TONIGHT.  ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF IAN WILL APPROACH AND REACH THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA TODAY, AND THEN MOVE FARTHER INLAND ACROSS EASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. 

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 85 MPH WITH HIGHERGUSTS.  LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED BEFORE IAN REACHESTHE COAST LATER TODAY.  RAPID WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AFTER LANDFALL, AND IAN IS FORECAST TO BECOME AN EXTRATROPICAL LOW OVER NORTH CAROLINA TONIGHT OR ON SATURDAY.  THE LOW IS THEN EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE BY SATURDAY NIGHT.