HOLT, Fla., Sept. 8, 2018—Tropical Storm Florence is expected to regain hurricane status “at any time” according to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. EDT update.
This system presents the next threat to the United States as it heads toward the east coast of the United States and is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane.
The areas from northern Florida and Georgia to Virginia, Maryland and Delaware can expect to feel the impacts of tropical-storm-force winds by Wednesday evening if Florence continues on the current track and at its present rate of speed.
Florence is moving westward near 6 mph and should pass between Bermuda and the Bahamas Tuesday and Wednesday, with a possible landfall in the Carolinas Thursday.
Once Florence regains hurricane strength, it’s expected to rapidly intensify, becoming a category 4 hurricane by Monday, according to the NHC.
Florence is forecast to be a dangerous major hurricane near the southeast U.S. coast by late next week and the risk of direct impacts continues to increase.
However, given the uncertainty in track and intensity forecasts at those time ranges, it’s too soon to determine the exact timing, location and magnitude of those impacts.
