Ian downgraded to tropical storm as it makes its way up east coast

(KYMA, KECY/ CNN) - Hurricane Ian has weakened to a tropical storm early Thursday morning after barreling through southwest Florida as a powerful hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center says Ian is now moving northeast with strong winds at 65 miles per hour.

The system first made landfall as a category four hurricane Wednesday afternoon - becoming one of the strongest storms to hit the state's west coast.

Ian brought catastrophic winds and flooding that left millions without power and trapped residents in their homes.

With the system now weakening, all hurricane warnings along the east and west coasts of the Florida peninsula have been changed to tropical storm warnings.

Powerful winds, heavy rain and storm surge are still expected across portions of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas over the next three days.