Catastrophic flood risk taking place this weekend as Florence slowly pivots through the Carolinas in the Appalachians



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Heavy rains from Florence continue to cause sudden floods
  • It is expected that Florence will reluctantly move into the Carolinas on Saturday.
  • This will produce catastrophic floods and major floods.
  • Potentially lethal storm surges have already occurred in eastern North Carolina.
  • Tropical storm and storm surge warnings were issued.
  • The remains of Florence will remain in parts of the East early next week.

Florence drifts west into eastern South Carolina and continues to spread heavy rains and strong winds in the Carolinas before embarking on the southeast early next week, causing catastrophic floods, storm surges

It's happening now

Several flash floods occurred Friday night and will continue in southeastern North Carolina, near Jacksonville and Goldsboro, North Carolina. More than 20 inches of rain fell and at least 5 quick water rescues took place. Floods in homes and businesses have occurred, according to the National Meteorological Service.

Radar, watches and warnings

(Watches and warnings are issued by the National Weather Service.)

Florence is located about 15 miles west-northwest of Myrtle Beach, North Carolina or 45 miles southeast of Florence, North Carolina, starting Friday night. A slow and erratic movement between the west and west-southwest is expected Saturday.

Current state of the storm

(The highest peaks, corresponding to the most vigorous convection, are represented by the brightest red colors.The concentration, deep convection around the center is a sign of a healthy tropical cyclone.)

Two spots aim to destroy tropical cyclone precipitation records for North Carolina: Newport with 23.50 inches of rainfall and Morehead City with just over 23 inches to date. The previous record is 24.06 inches from Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Florence helped push the water up the coast to Chesapeake Bay north on Friday night. Minor floods have been reported in Maryland, where water levels 2.7 feet above normal have been reported.

As of Friday night, the winds continue to blow at over 50 mph. A station in Lumberton, North Carolina, recently reported a gust of 60 mph while Florence, South Carolina, reported a burst at 52 mph.

For more information on precipitation, winds, and storm surges, see the bottom of this article.

Tropical storm warnings remain posted near the coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Watches and warnings

(A watch means that hurricanes or tropical storms are possible within 48 hours, a warning means that these conditions are expected within 36 hours.)

The steering currents collapsed, allowing Florence to slow down tremendously by drifting along the Carolinas coast.

Significant weakening of the winds is expected over the weekend, as it moves further inland, but extremely heavy rains and increased flood potential.

Florence will pass through the south and central Appalachian this weekend until early next week.

Path projected

(The shaded area in red indicates the potential trajectory of the center of the tropical cyclone.) It is important to note that impacts (especially heavy rains, high waves, coastal floods, winds)

From here the middle of next week, all that remains of Florence will move north-east across the northern Appalachians and into the northeast.

(Last chapter of Florence: the forecasts of the northeast)

Forecast impacts

– High impact precipitation: Florence will produce high-end flash floods between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Morehead City, North Carolina.

The National Hurricane Center has noted that "catastrophic flash floods and prolonged, large-scale floods threaten life in parts of the Carolinas and Appalachians in the south and center by the end of next week".

This threat of heavy rains could last days until early next week in some areas, given the slow movement of Florence. Returning evacuees should know that floods could last in the east of the Carolinas until next week, including in case of floods on roads and in homes.

Catastrophic floods are expected in some areas, not just near the Caroline coasts where the greatest rainfall is forecast, but also in the Appalachians where heavy rains on mountainous terrain are likely to cause landslides and landslides. See the link below for more information.

(MORE: Potentially catastrophic floods inland are possible)

According to the National Hurricane Center, Florence is expected to produce the following precipitation totals:

– The North Carolina coast in the far northeastern South Carolina: 20 to 25 inches extra, with isolated totals of up to 40 inches
– Rest of South Carolina and North Carolina in southwestern Virginia: 5 to 10 inches, with isolated totals of up to 15 inches

Precipitation Outlook in Florence

(This should be interpreted as a general perspective of where the heaviest rains may fall and may change depending on the forecast trajectory.) Extreme quantities may occur when rains of rain block over several hours. .)

The runoff of this incredible rainfall will continue for days and then enter the Caroline rivers. Floods can inflate these basins for weeks or even months.

– Impact of storm surges: A destructive storm surge accompanied the landing Friday, and coastal floods could persist through several high tide cycles this weekend east of downtown Florence. All evacuation orders from local authorities must be followed because of this dangerous threat. Significant beach erosion is also likely on the southeastern coast of the United States. High water levels may persist for some time after landing in areas where coastal winds persist.

(MAPS: Interactive Maps of Peak Floods by Storm)

Watches and warnings of storm

Here are the latest National Hurricane Center storm surge floods at high tide:

– Along the rivers Neuse, Pamlico, Pungo and Bay: 4 to 7 feet
– Ocracoke Inlet in Cape Lookout, NC: 2 to 4 feet
– Cape Fear in Cape Lookout, North Carolina: 3 to 5 feet
– Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Cape Fear, North Carolina: 2 to 4 feet

Forecast of storms

(From the National Hurricane Center.)

These water levels will add to the already high tides caused by the new moon.

The shock waves will roll over the storm surge, inflicting more damage to structures near the water when the hurricane arrives.

High tide time and current waves

– Wind impact: Tropical storm winds (over 40 km / h) are expected to continue Saturday throughout eastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. Many fallen trees and prolonged power outages could occur near and inside the country, where the center of Florence strikes.

Forecast gusts of Florence

This threat of tree damage and power outages could also extend to the entire storm band of the tropical storm of Florence and could last extended period of time in this weekend. Structural damage to homes and buildings is possible, especially when the heart of a hurricane force winds is moving.

Prediction of power failure for Hurricane Florence.

– Tornadoes: Some tornadoes are possible in East and Southeast North Carolina on Saturday. These tornadoes are expected to be weak and short-lived, but they could aggravate the damage caused by precipitation or hurricane winds in a straight line.

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center issued a tornado watch for parts of southern North Carolina until 7 pm EDT.

Florence Storm Reports

Florence made landfall near Wrightsville, NC, at 0715 EDT, with maximum sustained winds around 90 mph.

Wind reports

Gusts of wind reached 106 mph in Cape Lookout, North Carolina, late Thursday night, while a 105-mph gust was reported in Fort Macon, North Carolina.

Friday morning, Wilmington, North Carolina, recorded a gust of wind at 105 mph, the second strongest wind recorded here. A gust of wind at 100 mph was reported at Cape Fear, North Carolina earlier Friday and a buoy located about 50 miles east of central Florence reported a gust of wind at 112 mi. / h.

The gusts of wind from Florence from 8:00 am EDT Friday.

Winds were blowing up to 99 mph in Fort Macon, North Carolina, and sustained winds were at 73 mph on Friday morning.

Sustained winds of 79 mph were reported at Davis, North Carolina, while a sustained wind of 77 mph was recorded at Fort Macon, North Carolina.

A gust of 72 mph was reported Friday night in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Water reports

Oriental, North Carolina, reported 20.37 inches of rainfall, while Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, recorded 18.53 inches of rain and Swansboro, North Carolina, measured 14.25 inches of rain . More than 12 inches of rain has been reported near Calabash, North Carolina, with more than 10 inches of rainfall near Surf City, North Carolina

Water levels remain high at Pamlico Sound in North Carolina and a gauge at Emerald Isle has recorded a 7-foot peak on Friday morning. A storm surge of 10.1 feet was recorded early Friday in New Bern.

On Thursday night, the National Weather Bureau of Morehead City, North Carolina, reported a 10-degree storm surge at the Cherry Branch ferry terminal on the Neuse, courtesy of the Department of Transportation of North Carolina. North.

A record tide level was set in Beaufort, North Carolina., very early Friday, the higher levels observed during Hazel (1954) and Floyd (1999), among others, with a reading of 7.28 feet.

(PLUS: Florence breaks surge records in two cities))

A gauge at Oriental, North Carolina, on the Neuse, recorded a water level about 6 feet above normal tidal levels late Thursday.

(MORE: North Carolina meteorologists expelled during broadcast by Florence Flooding)

There continues to be overflow of dunes curves "S" on Highway 12 near Rodanthe in the outer benches.

The history of Florence

Tropical Depression Six formed late August 31, then was named Tropical Storm Florence the next day in the Far East Atlantic Ocean.

On September 5, Florence became a category 4 hurricane after rapidly escalating over the Atlantic Ocean.

The wind shear then weakened Florence after a tropical storm on 6 September.

Florence underwent a rapid intensification a second time Sunday to Monday, when its winds climbed from 75 mph to 130 mph in just 25 hours at noon. EDT Monday.

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