UNITED STATES - Hurricane season is hitting its peak. Hurricane Florence bumped from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane, as it nears North and South Carolina, according to a report by CNN.
“Florence is quickly becoming a powerful hurricane,” Eric Blake, Hurricane Specialist, wrote, according to AP News. “The bottom line is that there is increasing confidence that Florence will be a large and extremely dangerous hurricane, regardless of its exact intensity.”
The National Hurricane Center reported that by midday (EDT) today, September 10, Florence had sustained winds of 130 mph, was centered about 1,230 miles east-southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina, and is moving west at 13 mph. The center is expected to travel between Bermuda and the Bahamas Tuesday and Wednesday and will approach the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina on Thursday. Per CNN, Florence is expected to strengthen as it nears the U.S. coast and is expected to become the most powerful storm to hit the region in three decades.
"There is an increasing risk of life-threatening impacts from Florence: storm surge at the coast, freshwater flooding from a prolonged and exceptionally heavy rainfall event inland, and damaging hurricane-force winds," the Hurricane Center said.
The governors of North and South Carolina and Virginia have declared states of emergency, with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster asking President Trump for a federal emergency declaration as both states prepare for the possibility of a large-scale disaster.
“Pretend, assume, presume that a major hurricane is going to hit right smack dab in the middle of South Carolina and is going to go way inshore,” said Governor McMaster, encouraging many residents to prepare to be without power and possibly even evacuate.
According to CNN, Governor Cooper even waived certain transportation restrictions so that local farmers could harvest and move crops more quickly as Hurricane Florence circles closer.
Behind Florence, Hurricane Isaac is set to hit the Caribbean Islands, with Hurricane Helene right behind, but still farther out at sea.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on all weather activity as it relates to fresh produce.
