US: Hurricane warnings in effect for Carolinas September 11 /update 1

Event

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued hurricane warnings for parts of North and South Carolina on Tuesday, September 11, as Hurricane Florence continues to approach the east coast. Florence is still is expected to make landfall in the Carolinas overnight on September 13-14. As of 23:00 (local time) on Tuesday, warnings are in effect from South Santee River (South Carolina) to Duck (North Carolina), and Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. Hurricane watches have also been issued from Duck to the North Carolina/Virginia border and from Edisto Beach (South Carolina) to South Santee River. A state of emergency has also been declared in the  Carolinas and the states of Virginia and Maryland in preparation for the storm. Life-threatening flash flooding is possible in parts of the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic states from Thursday, September 13, into the following week, along with damaging hurricane-force winds.

As of 23:00, Hurricane Florence is located approximately 1075 km (670 mi) east-southeast of Cape Fear (North Carolina) and moving at a speed of 28 km/h (17 mph). The storm has maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), making it a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Florence is expected to produce total rainfalls between 38-63 cm (15-25 in) and up to 89 cm (35 in) in isolated areas.

Context

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the largest concentration of storms typically occurring between August and October.

Advice

Individuals present in the affected areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, anticipate strong winds and heavy rain (and associated disruptions), and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities (including evacuation orders). Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.