The threat for life-threatening conditions from Hurricane Florence in North Carolina is increasing.  The storm is expected to bring catastrophic storm surge, destructive winds, and devastating flooding to the state starting and the end of this week.  Hurricane and storm surge watches have been issued from Edisto Beach, South Carolina to the North Carolina-Virgina border.

Florence remains a category 4 hurricane.  It's intensity is expected to fluctuate some over the next couple of days.  It could briefly strengthen to near category 5 strength at some point Wednesday.

The storm is expected to make landfall along the Carolina coast Thursday night or early Friday morning.

The latest update has shifted the track slightly south and slowing down as it makes its way towards the Carolinas. If this slower trend in the data continues, a Friday landfall will become more likely.

If the storm continues to shift south, impacts to North Carolina will be reduced. Though, it is too soon to tell where Florence will make landfall.

Everyone is encouraged not to just focus on the storm's eye or center, as Florence is growing in size.  The storm will likely impact a large part of the Carolinas.  Hurricane force winds currently extend 40 miles from the eye.  Tropical storm force winds extend 150 miles from the center.

Expected impacts along the North Carolina coast

This is a massive tropical system with a diameter of 500 miles. To put that in perspective, the entire state of North Carolina is exactly 500 miles long.  Areas near where the eye moves inland will likely see catastrophic storm surge and 120-140mph winds.  These conditions will cause major damage to even well-built structures.  Homes could lose their roofs and exterior walls.  Most trees will be snapped or uprooted.  Power and water outages could last for weeks.  With this type of damage, some neighborhoods could become uninhabitable for weeks.

Other locations near and along the coast that are not near the eye wall could still experience 75-100mph winds.  This would also result in damage to some structures and power outages that could last for weeks.

Between 10 and 25 inches of rain is possible.  If the storm stalls longer than expected, these amounts could be higher.

Anyone that lives at or near the coast should listen to local emergency management officials for any evacuation orders.  If you are asked or told to leave, making the decision to ignore those evacuation orders will likely be putting your life in danger.  Rescuers will not be able to reach you during the storm.

If you are not in an evacuation zone, make sure your home can withstand the wind speeds forecast for your area.  During the storm, seek shelter in an interior room of your home away from windows.  If you live in a flood prone area, move to higher ground before the storm arrives.

Inland impacts into central North Carolina including the Raleigh-Durham and Fayetteville areas

Outer rain bands from Florence may reach central North Carolina late Thursday or Thursday night, but this region will see the worst of the weather conditions starting Friday morning and continuing all day Friday.  During that time, 40 to 70mph sustained winds are possible with hurricane force gusts up to 80mph.

Brief tornadoes could spin up as the storm moves inland especially near and the right of path of the storm's eye.

The winds should diminish some late Friday in central North Carolina, but with the storm forecast to slow down or stall out, the rain may continue through the entire weekend.

For now, it appears 10 to 15 inches of rain is possible.  However, these amounts could change and shift west or east depending on the exact track of the storm.  If the storm stalls longer than expected, much higher rainfall amounts would be possible.

Inland residents do not evacuate during a hurricane.  However, if you feel your home cannot withstand the wind speeds forecast for your region, you should seek shelter somewhere else before the storm begins.  

All inland residents should find out now if you live in a flood prone area.  If you do, move to higher ground before the storm storms.  Rescuers may not be able to reach you if flood waters rise around your location.

Stay tuned to Spectrum News for critical updates about Hurricane Florence through the week.

Florence forecast track

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