Why it matters: Rise numbers this high — 12 to 18 feet — would be unprecedented for the region and some of the highest on record in the U.S.

“Ian is battering the Florida peninsula with damaging storms, winds and flooding,” the NHC said in an update at 5 p.m. ET. Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis (R) warned in a briefing Wednesday afternoon that there would be damage across the state: “Overwhelmingly it was this rise that was the biggest problem and the flooding … as a result,” he said. . “In some areas, we believe it has reached 12 feet.”

Driving news: Hurricane Ian made landfall at 3:05 p.m. ET near Cayo Costa, Florida with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph as an “extremely dangerous” hurricane, the NHC said.

The NHC expects between 12 and 18 feet of “catastrophic” storm surge somewhere between Englewood and Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor. Storm surge is expected along nearly all of Florida’s west coast, with 8 to 12 feet expected somewhere between Bonita Beach and tiny Chokoloskee Island in south Florida, and 6 to 10 feet from Englewood to Longboat Key. The storm surge will be accompanied by strong winds, heavy rainfall and significant flooding.

The large storm had already produced waves of more than 9 feet in Naples by 1 p.m. ET Wednesday, a new record for the city, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration monitoring station. Threat Level: Some communities, likely including Naples, will experience the worst of the surge and winds on the backside of the storm’s eyewall.

Winds will be onshore and potentially stronger than they were during the storm’s initial approach.

The latest: From 7 p.m. ET, it was moving northeast at about 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and was located about 25 miles east-northeast of Punta Gorda.

It made landfall on the Florida mainland just south of Punta Gorda near Pirate Harbor around 4:35 p.m. ET, according to the NHC. A National Ocean Service station near Ft. Myers reported water levels greater than 7 feet, per EST NHC update at 7 p.m.

The big picture: The NHC considers storm surge, or the abnormal rise of water created by a storm, to be the most deadly and destructive aspect of hurricanes.

The surge is the result of water being pushed up the coastline by cyclonic winds around the storm and can cause “extreme” flooding in coastal areas, especially when it coincides with high tide.

Go deeper: Andrew Freedman of Axios contributed to this story. Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional details.