MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) – The outer bands of wind and rain from Hurricane Florence are moving onshore along North Carolina’s barrier islands as the massive storm bears down on the Southeastern coastline.
As of 8 a.m., the Category 2 storm was centered about 170 miles east-southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, and about 220 miles east-southeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Its forward movement slowed to 12 mph and top sustained winds stayed at 110 mph (175 kph).
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami don’t expect it to strengthen from a Category 2 hurricane before it moves ashore, but they say the real problem will be water as Florence lingers along the coast through Saturday.
Florence’s hurricane-force winds were blowing 80 miles (130 kilometers) from its center, and tropical-storm-force winds reached up to 195 miles (315 kilometers) from the eye.
Our Clayton Neville is in the region for storm coverage and tweeted the following images:
North Carolina grocery stores emptying out in anticipation of #HurricaneFlorence. Keep it here and all @WestwoodOne @WestwoodOneNews stations as I head south for Charleston. pic.twitter.com/q2Enye6Y7V
— The News Joint (@ClaytonNeville) September 12, 2018
Red Cross volunteers from North Texas are also in the storm region. Additionally, a convoy of Oncor workers is headed to the East coast to assist with power restoration after the storm.
North Texas @RedCross volunteers heading to the east coast for #HurricaneFlorence say they would want someone to come help them “if the table was turned.” Stories @WBAP247NEWS @570KLIF pic.twitter.com/9A1mcj22Ff
— The News Joint (@ClaytonNeville) September 11, 2018
Meantime, the Coast Guard says port operations in Charleston, South Carolina, have been stopped as Hurricane Florence approaches the coast.
