How Hurricane Florence Will Impact Southern New England

What the National Hurricane Center is calling a "life-threatening storm" is forcing the evacuation of a million people from the East Coast. Hurricane Florence, a category 4 hurricane, is expected to reach the Mid-Atlantic within 48 hours. It could approach a category 5 hurricane when it does.

The National Hurricane Center's Tuesday morning update showed the incredible devastation that could be in store for the Carolinas and beyond. It also showed how far north the storm's impact could reach after a slight northbound shift.

Massachusetts is on the very outskirts of the storm's reach. About an inch of rain can be expected later this week from Florence, mostly in Central and Western Massachusetts. It appears, as of Tuesday morning, that the storm will narrowly miss Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire altogether. There will be "no impact in Boston," the National Weather Service said.

The strong rip currents and intense surf along the New England coast is still a risk. A high surf advisory is in effect for the southern coasts of the region.

These forecasts can always change, and a slight shift in the storm's track could result in different conditions for New England.

>>>NEW: Dire Outlook As Millions Flee Along Coastline

But the primary concern remains the Mid-Atlantic, where at up to 30 inches of rain and hurricane-force winds are expected in parts. As of Tuesday morning, Florence had maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour and was about 900 miles off the coast of Cape Fear, North Carolina.

The South Carolina coastline is under mandatory evacuations beginning at noon Tuesday, while some parts of coastal North Carolina and Virginia are also under evacuations.

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