At 8:00 AM EDT Saturday, the center of Tropical Storm Florence was located near latitude 33.6 North, longitude 79.5 West. Florence is moving toward the west near 2 mph (4 km/h), and a slow westward motion is expected to continue through today. A turn toward the west-northwest and northwest is expected on Sunday. Florence is forecast to turn northward through the Ohio Valley by Monday.
Radar data continue to indicate that the maximum sustained winds remain near 50 mph (80 km/h) with higher gusts in heavy rainbands over water. Gradual weakening is forecast while Florence moves farther inland during the next couple of days, and it is expected to weaken to a tropical depression by tonight.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) from the center. A sustained wind of 44 mph (70 km/h) with a gust to 51 mph (83 km/h) was recently reported at the Johnny Mercer Pier in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. A sustained wind of 43 mph (69 km/h) with a gust to 51 mph (83 km/h) was recently reported by NOAA Buoy 41013 at Frying Pan Shoals, 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