Dorian Remains 'Powerful Hurricane,’ Closes In On North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA — As coastal North Carolina braced for Hurricane Dorian Thursday, the storm’s assault along the shore also brought with it a threat of tornadoes, expected to last until early Friday, according to emergency officials. More than 6,000 residents were already without power by Thursday afternoon, according to officials. Much of coastal North Carolina remained under a tornado watch Thursday evening, as well as a storm surge warning and hurricane warning.

A larger, stronger Hurricane Dorian pounded the Carolinas with strong winds, sideways rain and damaging tornadoes on its march north Thursday, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people in its wake and flooding parts of downtown Charleston. At least four people have died on the U.S. mainland, bringing Dorian's death toll to 24.

The four U.S. deaths — all involving men who died in falls or by electrocution while trimming trees and making other hurricane preparations — occurred in North Carolina and Florida. Among those who died was 56-year-old Joseph Walden, who was knocked from a tree by a limb he had just cut from a tree outside his home in the Orlando, Florida, suburb of Ocoee. An elderly Florida man died in a hurricane center, and officials were trying to determine if he died from natural causes.

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Dorian Flooding, Wind Threats Continue; 4 U.S. Deaths

After gaining strength overnight Wednesday, Dorian began a slight downshift Thursday while off the coast of South Carolina. By early evening, the storm was clocking wind speeds of about 105 mph as the eye passed 45 miles south-southeast of Myrtle Beach, inching forward at about 10 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. update Thursday.

The storm was on track to move closer east to the South Carolina coast before moving near or over the North Carolina shore Friday, then heading toward New England Friday night, NHC said.

“Slow weakening is expected during the next few days,” NHC said. “However, Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane as the center moves near the coasts of South and North Carolina.”

Dorian is expected to dump 6 to 12 inches of rain along the coast of North Carolina, with isolated areas receiving up to 15 inches, according to forecasters. Storm surges up to 4-7 feet are also expected, along with powerful wind gusts.

As the storm continues its parallel creep north-northeast up the coast, so to does the tornado threat, forecasters said.

"A few tornadoes are possible through this afternoon near the coastal South and North Carolina border area," the National Hurricane Center said Thursday morning. "This threat will expand northeastward across the rest of eastern North Carolina during the afternoon and continue into tonight."

Thursday morning, the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for parts of eastern and central North Carolina, with tornado warnings for many areas along the North Carolina coast, including Jacksonville, Swansboro, Cedar Point, Sneads Ferry and Topsail Beach.

"There have been confirmed touchdowns already this morning," North Carolina Emergency Management said Thursday morning. "Make sure you have ways to receive weather-related alerts and know what to do if a tornado warning is issued in your area.

By 9:30 a.m., 3,147 power outages had been reported, with the majority of outages in Brunswick and New Hanover counties, NC Emergency Management said.

Emergency shelters have opened up in eastern North Carolina as thousands of residents move inland ahead of the storm. As of Wednesday afternoon, nine emergency shelters had been opened in Brunswick, Columbus and Durham counties.

The state's first fatality associated with the storm was reported Wednesday after an 85-year-old resident of Columbus County fell from a ladder while preparing his home for the storm, Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday.

SEE ALSO:

• Hurricane Dorian: How NC Residents Can Prepare
• Hurricane Dorian: List Of Emergency Shelters Open In NC

With the expectation of "significant" flash flooding in southeastern North Carolina, state emergency officials increased deployment of National Guard members to 527 soldiers at nine locations around the state, as well as deployed 56 high water vehicles, 19 aircraft, and swift boat rescue teams.

"Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds are expected along portions of the Florida east coast and the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, regardless of the exact track of Dorian's center," the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday. "Water levels could rise well in advance of the arrival of strong winds. Residents in these areas should follow advice given by local emergency officials."

SEE ALSO: Possible Tornado Videoed In Myrtle Beach: REPORT

WATCH: Tornado Spotted In Pender County Thursday Morning

Patch Editor Beth Dalbey contributed.