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Hurricane watches upgraded to warnings, new watches issued

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The National Hurricane Center provided a complete undated forecast for Hurricane Florence at 5 p.m. Eastern time.

  • As of 5 p.m., the eye of Hurricane Florence was located near latitude 27.5 North and longitude 67.1 West, moving west-northwest at 17 mph. It is about 360 miles off the coast of Bermuda and 785 miles from Cape Fear, North Carolina.

  • Storm surge and hurricane watches and warnings remain in effect for parts of the U.S. east coast and have been extended to cover considerably more ground.

  • Hurricane Florence is still forecasted to slow down as it approaches the coast of North Carolina or South Carolina Thursday and Friday.

  • Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 140 mph with higher gusts. Florence is still a category 4 hurricane, and both re-strengthening and additional strengthening are expected to occur over the next day.

  • Weakening is expected to occur again Thursday, but Florence is still projected to be a major hurricane through landfall.

  • Hurricane force winds currently extend up to 60 miles from the center of the storm, with tropical-storm-force winds extending 175 miles out.

  • Florence is expected to produce 15 to 25 inches of accumulated rainfall, with isolated areas of up to 35 inches, in portions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

A storm surge watch means there is a possibility rising water could move inland from the coastline, creating life-threatening conditions. This watch remains in effect for at least the next 48 hours.

Storm surge watches have been issued for the following areas: Edisto Beach, South Carolina to South Santee River, South Carolina and North of Duck North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border

A hurricane watch is generally issued 48 before the first tropical-storm-force winds are anticipated. It signals to residents that it is time to make outside preparations before doing so becomes dangerous.

Hurricanes watches have been issued for the following areas: Edisto Beach, South Carolina to South Santee River, South Carolina and North of Duck North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border

A storm surge warning is issued when rising water could move inland from the coastline, creating life-threatening conditions during the next 36 hours.

Storm surge warnings have been issued for the following areas: South Santee River, South Carolina to Duck North Carolina and Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers

A hurricane warning is issued when hurricane conditions are expected and the first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds is anticipated within the next 36 hours.

Hurricane warnings have been issued for the following areas: South Santee River, South Carolina to Duck North Carolina and Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers

A tropical storm watch is issued when tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.

Tropical storm watches have been issued for the following areas: North of the North Carolina/Virginia border to Cape Charles Light, Virginia and Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort 

Complete Hurricane Florence Coverage

Ashley Coker Prince

Ashley is interested in everything that moves, especially trucks and planes. She works with clients to develop sponsored content that tells a story. She worked as reporter and editor at FreightWaves before taking on her current role as Senior Content Marketing Writer. Ashley spends her free time at the dog park with her beagle, Ruth, or scouring the internet for last minute flight deals.