Hurricane Florence Slams North Carolina With Winds, Rain

Rain and have wind started in the town of Morehead City, North Carolina, ahead of Hurricane Florence on Sept. 13.

Morehead City is located in Carteret County, North Carolina, along the beach. Storm surge and hurricane warnings are in effect for Morehead City.

As of the afternoon of Sept. 13, Hurricane Florence’s eye was located approximately 110 miles east-southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, said the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm’s speed slowed down to 10 mph, moving northwest, the NHC said in its 2 p.m. update. It’s also 165 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The NHC said that Florence has 105 mph winds.

“It truly is really about the whole size of this storm,” National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham told The Associated Press. “The larger and the slower the storm is, the greater the threat and the impact—and we have that.”

NHC’s forecast discussion at 12 p.m. on Sept. 13 stated: “The subtropical ridge to the northeast and east of Florence is now well-established between Bermuda and the U.S. mid-Atlantic region and extends westward into Virginia and the central Appalachians.”

It added: “This large-scale feature is expected to keep the hurricane moving northwestward today, followed by a turn toward the west at a much slower speed on Friday as the ridge to the north of Florence weakens due to a weak shortwave trough dropping slowly southward from the Ohio Valley.”

Florence Figures

According to The Associated Press:

—Size: Hurricane-force winds extend up to 80 miles from the center, and tropical storm-force winds extend up to 195 miles. Overall, Florence is about 400 miles wide.

—Rainfall: parts of the Carolinas could see 20 inches to 30 inches, with isolated areas getting 40 inches, over seven days along the coast.

—Storm surge: up to 13 feet, and seawaters could push inland 2 miles, depending on how long Florence lingers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report