CHARLESTON — More than ten million Americans are under storm watches and warnings in three states as Hurricane Florence approaches the Carolinas. Hurricane force winds, storm surges, rain and potential flooding are the main concerns.
Florence, now a category 3 hurricane, was centered at 5 p.m. about 385 miles southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina. Florence is moving toward the northwest.
A satellite measured an 83 Foot Wave near the center of Hurricane Florence Wednesday morning.
“It appears a major flood event is on the way in the Middle Atlantic region,” meteorologist Mike Smith said. “It is likely some areas will flood that have never flooded before.”
A high definition camera outside the International Space Station captured a stark and sobering view of Hurricane Florence.
On the forecast track, the center of Florence will move over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas Wednesday night, and approach the coast of North Carolina or South Carolina in the hurricane warning area on Thursday and Friday, and move slowly near the coastline through Saturday.
Some fluctuations in strength will be possible through Thursday morning. Although slow weakening is expected to begin by late Thursday, Florence is forecast to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it nears the U.S. coast late Thursday and Friday.
The National Weather Service says the event “will likely be the storm of a lifetime for portions of the Carolina coast.”
Hurricane #Florence looks enormous, even from space. Here are three dramatic views of the storm approaching the East Coast, seen from the #GOESEast satellite this morning. Latest updates: https://t.co/LrkBX5oj8L #HurricaneFlorence pic.twitter.com/jJGJVOxbHq
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) September 12, 2018
There is a high to moderate risk of flash flooding from #Florence across eastern North Carolina and extreme eastern South Carolina on Friday. @NWSWPC is forecasting more than 20″ of rain in some areas over the next week. https://t.co/krDhlpZ8LX pic.twitter.com/YhIH0JziC0
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 12, 2018
Hurricane and storm surge warnings for Florence remain in effect from South Santee River, South Carolina, to Duck, North Carolina, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.
South Carolina State Troopers Escort Cars In Reversed Lane as Residents Flee The Coast – https://t.co/vJb6ANNRyN pic.twitter.com/57tvCISbn6
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 12, 2018
NHC said “Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.”
For updated forecasts on this storm, visit: www.nhc.noaa.gov.
