Florence has been upgraded twice already today, and the 5:00 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center is warning that “Florence is still growing in size and strength.” The NHC also anticipates issuing storm surge watches and hurricane warning by Tuesday morning.
The NHC notes that the storm’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 140 mph (220 kph), with higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles (65 kilometers) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 kilometers). The minimum central pressure has dropped to 939 MB or 27.73 inches.
Again, the NHC is warning that further strengthening is anticipated, and Florence is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane through Thursday.
Mandatory evacuation orders
South Carolina – A mandatory evacuation order takes effect Tuesday at noon in eight counties along South Carolina’s 187-mile coastline. Starting then, all roads on I-26 and Route 501 will be directed away from the coast, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said.
#SouthCarolina to evacuate entire coast ahead of #HurricaneFlorence September 10, 2018
McMaster estimated that about 1 million people would have to evacuate. “This is a real hurricane we have coming,” McMaster said Monday. “We don’t want to risk one South Carolina life.” To find your zone in South Carolina GO HERE.
North Carolina– Officials already had ordered some 250,000 residents and visitors to begin evacuating the Outer Banks barrier islands, reports CNBC News. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has maps of evacuation routes and
A mandatory evacuation order for all visitors & residents on #Hatteras Island will be in effect Monday, September 10 at 12 p.m. A mandatory evacuation for residents and visitors in other areas of Dare County goes into effect beginning Tuesday, September 11 at 7:00 a.m. #OBX pic.twitter.com/hXwxVjcR1P
— Dare County EM (@DareCountyEM) September 10, 2018
Officials in North Carolina issued mandatory evacuation orders for Hatteras Island, on the southern end of the Outer Banks, beginning at noon Monday. The northern part of the Outer Banks, including the popular tourist destinations of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, and Nags Head, must be evacuated beginning Tuesday morning, Dare County Emergency Management said.
Virginia– Governor Ralph Northam has ordered a mandatory evacuation in parts of the Hampton Roads area and the state’s Eastern Shore, where 245,000 people live. “This is a serious storm, and it’s going to affect the entire state of Virginia,” Northam said at a Monday news briefing, according to the Washington Post.
Members of my family are packing to evacuate in #Virginia. Listen to your local officials. Don’t be the dead in this deadly storm. #Florence September 10, 2018
Virginia has mobilized its entire National Guard, some 6,000 troops, a move state officials say is unprecedented. Authorities have also called on other states to send water rescue teams to help.
Maryland– Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said at a news conference Monday morning, “We are preparing for the potential of historic, catastrophic and life-threatening flooding in Maryland.”
