At 6am this morning, St. Johns County bridges, including the 312 bridge from Anastasia Island to the mainland, were still open. The county expected to be forced to close them “later today”.

“We are playing it by ear”, said one official this morning. “The gusts are up and down right now. We’re waiting for 45 mph consistent winds”.

At the the 6am hour, strong 30 mph winds were being felt across Marsh Creek and St. Augustine Beach and forecasted to reach that 45 mph threshold as early as 8am this morning before falling off overnight.

Ian weakened to a Tropical storm overnight after its destructive arrival Wednesday afternoon on Florida’s southwest coast.

Ian is forecasted to sweep over the Kennedy Space Center later today and move out into the Atlantic, potentially as a Cat 1 hurricane.

A storm surge warning is in effect for coastal St. Augustine. A hurricane watch is in effect for the northeast Florida coastline into Georgia.

Widespread considerable flash, urban, and river 
flooding is expected across portions of northeast Florida, 
southeastern Georgia, and eastern South Carolina tomorrow through 
the weekend.