NHC NOAA (Newsradio 970 WFLA) At 11:00 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the center of Hurricane Florence was located near latitude 32.0 North, longitude 73.7 West. Florence, now a CAT2 is moving toward the northwest near 17 mph (26 km/h), and this general motion, accompanied by a gradual decrease in forward speed, is expected to continue through Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of Florence will move over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas tonight, and approach the coast of North Carolina or South Carolina in the hurricane warning area on Thursday and Friday, and move slowly near the coastline through Saturday.
Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts. Florence is now a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind scale. Little change in strength is expected before the center reaches the coast, with weakening expected after the center moves inland.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195
miles (315 km).
Life threatening storm surge and rainfall still expected as Hurricane Florence makes landfall.
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina
Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico
Rivers
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina
North of Duck North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina
Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
North of Duck North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
North of the North Carolina/Virginia border to Cape Charles Light
Virginia
Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort