Miami, Fla. (970 WFLA)-At 5:00 AM, the center of Hurricane Florence was located near latitude 24.1 North, longitude 47.9 West, about 1060 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, and 1170 miles east-southeast of Bermuda.
The hurricane is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph. A turn toward the west-northwest with a decrease in forward speed is expected later today, followed by a turn toward the west by the weekend.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 115 mph with higher gusts. Florence is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional weakening is forecast today, but Florence is expected to remain a strong hurricane for the next several days.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 964 mb (28.47 inches).
Graphic credit: NHC Miami