Hurricane Florence Tracker: Warnings Sent Out for North, South Carolina

Hurricane warnings have been issued by the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) for portions of South Carolina and North Carolina due to Hurricane Florence, according to the agency’s 5 p.m. update on Sept. 11.

Florence, it said, will bring “life-threatening storm surge and rainfall to portions of the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic.”

The storm strengthened from 130 mph to 140 mph and is Category 4, the NHC said. A Category 5 storm has 157 mph winds.

Warnings and Watches

The hurricane warning was issued for issued from South Santee River, South Carolina, to Duck, North Carolina, and the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.

A storm surge warning was issued from South Santee River, South Carolina, to Duck, North Carolina, and the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers.

A tropical storm watch was issued for north of the North Carolina-Virginia border to Cape Charles Light, Virginia, and for the Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort.

A hurricane watch is in effect for Edisto Beach, South Carolina to South Santee River, South Carolina and North of Duck, North Carolina to the North Carolina-Virginia border.

A tropical storm watch was issued for north of the North Carolina-Virginia border to Cape Charles Light, Virginia, and the Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort.

Hurricane warnings have been issued by the U.S. National Hurricane Center for portions of South Carolina and North Carolina due to Hurricane Florence, according to the agency’s 5 p.m. update on Sept. 11, 2018. (NOAA / NHC)

“Interests elsewhere in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states should monitor the progress of Florence. Additional watches and warnings may be required tonight or Wednesday,” officials cautioned.

“The latest NHC forecast track is very similar to the previous two advisory tracks,” the NHC also stated in its discussion at 5 p.m. The storm is moving west-northwest at 17 mph and is 785 miles east-southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina.

‘Big and Vicious’

“This storm is a monster. It’s big and it’s vicious. It is an extremely, dangerous, life-threatening, historic hurricane,” said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, according to The Associated Press.

Forecast models have said that several feet of heavy rain could cause flooding well inland from the coast.

The storm strengthened from 130 mph to 140 mph and is Category 4, the NHC said. (NHC)

Cooper added: “The waves and the wind this storm may bring is nothing like you’ve ever seen. Even if you’ve ridden out storms before, this one is different. Don’t bet your life on riding out a monster.”

President Donald Trump on Sept. 11 declared states of emergency for North and South Carolina, to open avenues for federal aid. The federal government was “absolutely, totally prepared” for Florence, the president said, according to a live stream of his press conference at the White House. He also declared a state of emergency in Virginia.

“Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding,” according to a statement from the White House.