Weather
Hurricane Florence Could Be Direct Hit For NC, Experts Warn
Forecasters are closely watching the storm which is still 3,500 miles offshore.
A category 3 hurricane churning 3,500 miles off the East Coast could be on track to hit land – with North Carolina potentially in its crosshairs, experts warned Thursday.
Hurricane Florence's 115 mph winds were stirring up the Atlantic east of Bermuda Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. It's moving northwest at 12 mph and is expected to remain a strong hurricane for several days.
AccuWeather meteorologists said there is a very real chance the Eastern U.S. will be affected.
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It is "forecast to push close enough to Bermuda and the United States East Coast to have indirect impact and may evolve into a serious direct threat," said a forecaster with the service, Alex Sosnowski.
He added, "If the high pressure area remains strong, then Florence may complete a 3,500-mile-long journey over the Atlantic and be guided right into the U.S. East Coast somewhere from the Carolinas to southern New England sometime during Wednesday or Thursday of next week."
Find out what's happening in Charlottefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
At the least, swells from the storm will begin to hit the East Coast early next week, with the National Hurricane Center warning they will cause life threatening surf and rip currents.
Florence is the first storm above category 3 to form this season and has formed as the Atlantic hurricane season reaches its peak.
Too soon to tell if #Florence will impact #ncwx: stay tuned. Currently Cat3 hurricane & expected to remain a strong for next few days. (Remember: Categories refer to WIND ONLY, not flood potential!) Tis the season so we're watching the Atlantic closely for other tropical systems. pic.twitter.com/eo3Jyy4CLQ
— NC Emergency Managem (@NCEmergency) September 6, 2018
While it’s too soon to know how it will impact the Tar Heel State, it is expected to remain a strong storm over the next few days, North Carolina Emergency Management warned Thursday. “Remember: categories refer to wind only, not flood potential,” NCEM said. “Tis the season so we’re watching the Atlantic closely for other tropical systems.”
Hurricane #Florence hitting stronger upper level winds this morning, weakening it from a category 4 to a 3. Weakening may continue next 24-36 hours as it passes through this jet, then restrengthening expected. Morning models still show large spread in track scenarios next week. pic.twitter.com/iWchna3f7t
— Mike Thomas (@MikeTFox5) September 6, 2018
Patch Editor Adam Nichols contributed
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Lead image by the National Hurricane Center
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