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Remnants of Ian could impact mountains

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 26, 2022

The remnants of Hurricane Ian could strike Western North Carolina this weekend, potentially packing high winds and heavy rain, although forecasters say confidence in the strom's path at this time is low.

"Windy conditions and heavy rainfall may impact the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia, but there is still uncertainty in the track and timing of this system," the National Weather Service said.

Henderson County Emergency Services Director Jimmy Brissie sent out an advisory noting that models are split on an eastward or westward track. A westward track would bring the greater chance of damaging winds and flooding. The impact depends, too, on the location of Ian's landfall and the intensity of the storm at the time, the advisory said. Now a tropical storm, Ian is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane before making landfall along the Florida Panhandle Thursday night or Friday.