Although Hurricane Florence has not yet made landfall, the storm is already pounding North Carolina’s coast with devastating winds and rain. The hurricane has slowed and should make landfall near Wilmington around 8 a.m., with most of the state feeling its effects throughout the weekend.<\/b>
\nRaleigh, N. C. \u2014 Although Hurricane Florence has not yet made landfall, the storm is already pounding North Carolina’s coast with devastating winds and rain. The hurricane has slowed and should make landfall near Wilmington around 8 a.m., with most of the state feeling its effects throughout the weekend.
4:08 p.m.: The North Carolina Electric Cooperatives report that about 11,000 members were without power Thursday afternoon. More than 7,000 of those outages are located in Carteret County, 1,500 in Craven County and 1,000 in Pamlico County.
The primary cause fo the power outages is high winds and soggy ground that has caused trees to fall on power lines.
Duke Energy is reporting more than 12,600 customers were without power in North and South Carolina.
4:02 p.m.: In anticipation of historic damage across the state, Gov. Roy Cooper has requested a presidential disaster declaration to speed up the process of receiving federal aid for cleanup and recovery.
«We know this massive storm will cause incredible damage and I’m asking Washington to act quickly so federal recovery help can come as soon as possible,» Cooper said in a statement.
The new declaration would provide federal help with debris removal, FEMA search and rescue teams, medical teams, hazardous material cleanup assistance, meals, generators and fuel.
3:39 p.m.: A business owner in Raleigh has built an earth structure around his building on Durham Drive to protect it from flooding. He says the area has flooded for years and took matters into his own hands despite contacting the city.
3:23 p.m.: At Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, crews are already preparing for the parking deck to flood with water from Crabtree Creek. Since the deck has flooded before during both hurricanes and storms, crews used caution tape and orange cones to block off the flood prone area of the busy mall.
3:18 p.m.: The Neuse River has overflowed, flooding downtown New Bern, and video showed people walking through the streets with water close to their knees.
3:08 p.m.: Mike Maze reminded us that Hurricane Matthew was incredibly devastating to communities although it never made landfall in North Carolina. Those same communities are at risk again this week. Matthew brought rain totals of 14.1 inches to Fayetteville, and 15 inches are expected from Florence this week.
3 p.m.: Goldsboro could see winds as strong as 50 mph by 6 p.m., while New Bern could see 90 mph winds. Winds in Raleigh were recorded at 14 mph Thursday afternoon, and that number could increase to 45 mph by 6 p.m.
«You will hear the howling of the storm while you’re trying to sleep tonight,» said WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze.
The winds will start to die down in the Triangle Saturday as the storm passes.
2:45 p.m: In Morehead City, WRAL reporter Candace Sweat had to hold on to her hat during a live report. Carteret County is one of the areas most affected in the statewide power outage, which is now close to 17,000.
2:41 p.m.: Rain bands should start moving into the Triangle in the next few hours. Isolated tornadoes are a risk for the Triangle and areas to its east for the rest of Thursday as rain bands pass through. Wake County is not yet under a tornado watch, but one is likely.
2:15 p.m.: An old Kmart parking lot in Garner has become a staging area for the state’s emergency fuel crew. These trucks will be used to refill fuel in emergency vehicles during the hurricane. Some of the crew members traveled from as far as California to assist. Cary Towne Center is also a staging site.
1:55 p.m.: The updated statewide power outage is 12,146, mainly in Craven and Carteret counties, according to N. C. Emergency Management.
1:42 p.m.: Topsail Beach announced they would cut off their water at 2 p.m.
1:37 p.m.: Hurricanes move more slowly when they reach land because they have to pass over structures, trees and more. For this reason, Hurricane Florence will be devastating when it makes landfall in the southeast.
1:30 p.m.: Hurricane Florence is 240 miles from Raleigh and 130 miles from Wilmington. Instead of overnight, as originally predicted, the storm should make landfall around 8 a.m.
1:20 p.m.: The Hunt Horse Complex at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh is opening as an equine evacuation site until it is safe for evacuated horses to return to their farms or until Sept. 24, when the building closes for the State Fair Horse Shows.
1:10 p.m.: N. C. Highway 12 is closed in both directions between the Bonner Bridge and Hatteras Village due to ocean overwash.
1 p.m.: Wake County will open additional emergency shelters today at Heritage High School in Wake Forest, Middle Creek High School in Apex and Sanderson High School in Raleigh. The shelters open at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
12:45 p.m.: More than 5,000 people are already without power in North Carolina 12 hours before Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall. The majority of those affected are in Carteret, Columbus, Craven and Brunswick counties.
12:25 p.m.: Morehead City and Atlantic Beach are some of the first to witness the dangerous strength of Florence. A shaking weather cam showed crashing waves and strong winds beating against a wooden pier. In the Outer Banks, photos show water washing onto shore before the storm even makes landfall.
12:15 p.m.: Duke Energy confirmed that it has shut down its nuclear plant in Brunswick County. The county, located in the southeast corner of the state, is one of the areas expected to be hit the hardest.
12 p.m.: Overwash has already been reported on N. C. Highway 12 north of Rodanthe. In one hour, more than inch of rain fell in Carteret County, where a tornado warning was reported earlier today. Meanwhile, the state’s central counties are also bracing for the storm.
11:30 a.m.: Tornado warnings have been issued in Carteret and Hyde counties.
11:05 a.m.: The Triangle will likely see some rain at lunchtime and scattered storms shortly after. More severe weather, like stronger winds and heavy rain, will start overnight and carry us into Friday morning.
11 a.m.: The latest update from the National Hurricane Center shows little change to the path of Hurricane Florence. The storm’s maximum sustained winds have weakened slightly from 110 to 105 mph, but it still remains Category 2 and dangerous. Strong wind and rains have already started at the coast.
10:30 a.m.: Peak Lab Rescue in Apex is working to limit the number of shelter dogs euthanized ahead of Hurricane Florence. When staff at animal shelters in communities with mandatory evacuations have to leave, there is no one left the care for animals. The Apex rescue group has removed more than 25 dogs from shelters in Lenoir and Columbus County ahead of the hurricane to minimize loss of life.
10:18 a.m.: Video and photos from the entire coast, including the Outer Banks and Wilmington, are already showing strong wind from Florence. The storm is estimated to make landfall just after midnight.
10:15 a.m.: WakeMed has partnered with a hospital near Florence’s projected landfall to bring NICU infants from Wilmington to Raleigh.
10 a.m.: Gov. Roy Cooper echoed FEMA’s message in a press conference about North Carolina’s preparations, stating he is worried that some people have said North Carolina is in the clear. Devastating storm surge is expected at the coast, and Elizabeth Gardner said the effects of Florence, which is several hundred miles wide, will be felt into Virginia.
«My message today — don’t relax. Don’t get complacent. This is the type of storm that can kill you. Today the threat becomes a reality. Get to a safe place and stay there if you haven\u2019t already,» said Gov. Cooper. «Make no mistake. Whether the eye of the storm makes landfall along our shores or farther south, we\u2019re on the wrong side of this thing. This storm will bring destruction to North Carolina.\u201d
Gov. Cooper also reminded listeners that Matthew didn’t make landfall, but it was catastrophic for the state.
9:30 a.m.: FEMA officials said the southeast portion of North Carolina could get 30 to 40 inches of rain. Officials can not stress enough the severity of the storm, especially in terms of storm surge.
9 a.m.: «Please do not let your guard down,» said FEMA’s administrator during a Hurricane Florence briefing in Washington, D. C, referencing that even though the storm is now Category 2 the storm surge and rainfall estimated have not changed. «Your time [to evacuate] is running out.»
8:10 a.m.: The Storm Prediction Center has issued a tornado watch for the eastern coastal plain and central coast for the remainder of the day. Tornadoes associated with tropical systems tend to be brief, fairly weak and fast moving, but nonetheless can produce some enhanced localized damage. If any form today, they will tend to move toward the south or southwest.
7:55 a.m.: According to Elizabeth Gardner, we might see some scattered showers starting after lunch today and some storms this evening. Strong winds from the hurricane won’t be felt until late Thursday and overnight.
7:25 a.m.: The Raleigh-Durham International Airport has tweeted that there are approximately 120 cancelations (55 arrivals and 65 departures) out of 400 daily flights.
7:10 a.m.: In Dare County, winds are picking up just like they are in Wilmington. Despite mandatory evacuation orders for the Outer Banks, a group of seasoned locals told WRAL they would remain at their homes and that they’ve been through this before. Even though the path of the storm has shifted significantly south, toward Wilmington and Brunswick County, officials in the Outer Banks are concerned about storm surge and flooding.
6:50 a.m.: Curious to know if your home is at risk for flooding? The City of Raleigh has an interactive map to help you find out.
6:30 a.m.: The bridge that leads to Wrightsville Beach is closed, and officials say they evacuated 2,500 from the area on Wednesday.
6:15 a.m.: Prolonged heavy rainfall is expected to start in the Triangle late this afternoon or this evening and continue Friday and Saturday. The Triangle could see up to 8 inches, and areas south of the Triangle wil see more.
6 a.m.: Even though the storm has weakened to Category 2, there will still be damage to buildings from the wind and devastating storm surge at the coast. The Triangle should brace for flooding, falling trees and wind damage.
5:50 a.m.: Elizabeth Gardner said Florence will most likely make landfall around 2 a.m., which means the Triangle will see the worst of the storm Friday.
5:30 a.m.: Live video from Wilmington shows strong winds and rain less than 24 hours before the center of the storm is expected to make landfall. Wilmington residents were urged to evacuate earlier this week.
5:15 a.m.: Cumberland, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Richmond, Scotland and Wilson are under a tropical storm warning. Wayne and Sampson counties are under a hurricane warning along with much of southeast North Carolina and the coast.
5 a.m.: The latest update from the National Hurricane Center shows little change in the storm. Florence has maximum winds of 110 mph and is still predicted to make landfall in Wilmington overnight.
4:45 a.m.: A flash flood watch will be in effect for Wake, Chatham, Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lenoir, Moore, Nash, Sampson, Scotland,Wayne, and Wilson counties from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday. At 5, we’ll get more information on the path and strength of Florence.
4:30 a.m.: Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall south of Wilmington late Thursday or early Friday as a Category 2 storm.
2 a.m.: At 2 a.m., The National Hurricane Center said Florence was moving northwest at 17 mph with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. A storm is classified Category 3 if its winds are recorded at 111 mph or more.<\/p>\n

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