Hurricane Florence Remnants Could Reform, Hit North Carolina: Report

A week after Hurricane Florence crushed the Carolinas with heavy rain, flooding, and winds, the remains of the storm have a slight chance at reforming back into a cyclonic storm before hitting the region again.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center is still monitoring Florence’s remnants as it moves into the Atlantic. According to the Wilmington Star News Online, Victoria Oliva, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Wilmington office, said there is about a 20 percent of the storm reforming.

“It is moving very slow and it is not in a good environment,” she stressed. “Right now, it is just a small system of storms. But there is a lot of dry air and strong upper-level winds that would create shear, which tropical storms don’t like.”

The current track has the remnants moving to the southwest and then to the northeast. Then, it could impact the weather in the Carolinas.

A week after Hurricane Florence crushed the Carolinas with heavy rain, flooding, and winds, the remains of the storm have a slight chance at reforming back into a cyclonic storm before hitting the region again. (NHC)

“It could bring some rainfall, but that might be seven or more days out,” she told the publication. “Right now, it is all very, very unsure.”

If the storm reforms, it would be called Kirk, not Florence, the report said.

The flooding from Florence is persisting, leading to more than 100 people being rescued from Bladen, North Carolina, early on Sept. 21, WRAL reported.

Flooding Rampant

In all, reports say that at least 40 people have died in Florence-related incidents, including at least one infant who was swept away in floodwaters.

“The damage to our state is devastating and is still occurring,” Gov. Roy Cooper said. “We don’t yet know the full extent of the damage, and we won’t know until the waters recede.”

Meanwhile, Interstate 40 and Interstate 95, which were hard-hit by flooding will remain closed for a week, said state Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon on Sept. 20, according to WRAL.

“There is still no safe, reliable route to Wilmington,” a Department of Transportation spokesman said.

The Department of Transportation this week posted video footage (seen at the top of the article) of I-40 completely inundated by Florence’s floodwaters.

On Sept. 20, Wilmington remained cut off due to floodwaters, and more than 200 state roads were blocked or closed, Reuters reported, adding that 60,000 customers remain without power.

Flooding in South Carolina is now a concern.

Georgetown County, located on the Atlantic coast between Myrtle Beach and Charleston, is one of several areas in the Carolinas where rivers could crest, causing flooding, Reuters reported. Officials said the flooding could start next week.

“We’re at the end of the line of all waters to come down,” said Georgetown County Administrator Sel Hemingway, CBS News reported.

“Please heed the warnings,” Sheriff Lane Cribb said. “Protecting lives and property will be our goal ... You better pray.”