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Hurricane Florence Rains Close In On North Carolina Coast

Downgraded to Category 2, but a “life-threatening storm surge” is almost guaranteed.

The outer rain bands of Hurricane Florence are closing in on the coastline of North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center reports, with storm-force winds expected to cause chaos later Thursday morning. Florence weakened slightly to Category 2 as it headed toward North and South Carolina late Wednesday, but authorities say it will still be “extremely dangerous,” with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. Forecasters warned that Florence will likely bring a “life-threatening storm surge” and “life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding” to parts of the Carolinas. The projected track has also changed slightly, with forecasters warning it is likely to move south and hit Georgia, a shift that prompted Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to declare a state of emergency late Wednesday. More than 1 million people living in coastal areas of North and South Carolina have been ordered out, and more than 10 million people are now under storm warnings or watches. Authorities in North and South Carolina made a last-minute plea to residents Wednesday to evacuate. “You put your life at risk by staying,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said. “Don’t plan to leave once the winds and rains start.”