At 11:00 PM EDT the center of Tropical Storm Florence was located over extreme eastern South Carolina near latitude 33.8 North, longitude 79.1 West. Florence is moving toward the west-southwest near 5 mph (7 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue through early Saturday. Florence is forecast to turn westward and then northward through the Carolinas and to the Ohio Valley by Monday.
Radar data indicate that maximum sustained winds have decreased to near near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast while Florence moves farther inland during the next couple of days, and it is likely to weaken to a tropical depression by Saturday night.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) from the center. A wind gust to 60 mph (96 km/h) was recently reported at Lumberton, North Carolina. A sustained wind of 39 mph (63 km/h) and a gust to 52 mph (83 km/h) were recently reported at Florence, South Carolina.
The Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Warning have been discontinued north of Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Myrtle Beach South Carolina to Ocracoke Inlet North Carolina
* Pamlico Sound, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Edisto Beach South Carolina to Ocracoke Inlet North Carolina
* Pamlico Sound
Interests elsewhere in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states should monitor the progress of Florence.