Reports: 5 killed as Florence inundates the Carolinas with life-threatening flooding; Over 700,000 without power
After lingering just offshore from Wilmington, North Carolina, through Thursday night, Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach early Friday morning. The storm will continue to producing devastating storm surge, wind gusts, tornadoes and flash flooding conditions throughout eastern North Carolina.
As Florence continues to meander along the shoreline on Friday, the storm is expected to inflict further damage over the region.
Download the free AccuWeather app to stay up-to-date with Florence’s expected track and impacts to the eastern coast of the United States.
Hundreds of thousands have lost power across North and South Carolina since Florence first began impacting the Carolinas on Thursday.
"Significant wind damage will lead to utility outages that may last several weeks, especially along the immediate coastline," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde warned.
Storm surge exceeded 10 feet in New Bern, North Carolina, on Thursday night, sending first responders out into the storm as many people were forced to their top floors and roofs. Similar flood conditions threaten coastal communities up and down the North Carolina coast.
Rainfall totals have already exceeded a foot at several locations, and the rain is not expected to let up any time soon.
"Florence has slowed to a crawl as expected, and this will only exacerbate the flooding situation for the Carolinas from now through Sunday,” Rinde said.
“Early next week, Florence will bring a threat of heavy rainfall and flooding farther north up the spine of the Appalachians and perhaps into the eastern Ohio Valley."
AccuWeather correspondents are live in the Carolinas bringing you coverage on our free app, AccuWeather.com, and the AccuWeather Network.
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5:30 p.m. EDT Friday:
According to reports, a fifth person was killed after he was blown down by the wind while going outside to check on his hunting dogs.
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4:40 p.m. EDT Friday:
Florence has weakened slightly and is now a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. However, it will continue to bring life-threatening flooding to the Carolinas into the weekend.
President Donald Trump plans to visit areas affected by Florence next week once his travel will not disrupt any recovery efforts.
“More than 3,800 Federal Employees, including more than 1,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are working with State and local partners to respond to Florence,” the White House said on its website.
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3:45 p.m. EDT Friday:
The number of fatalities linked to Florence has risen to four.
One man died in North Carolina when plugging in a generator. A woman having a heart attack also died with paramedics unable to reach the woman in time due to trees and debris blocking the road.
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3 p.m. EDT Friday:
Two fatalities have been confirmed by Wilmington Police after a tree fell on a house amid strong winds from Florence. Another person was injured and transported to a local hospital.
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1:25 p.m. EDT Friday:
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, where Hurricane Florence made landfall, has set a new all-time record high tide with waters move than four feet above the typical high tide levels. This breaks the previous record water level, set in 2015 from the remnants of Joaquin.
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12:20 p.m. EDT Friday:
North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue has stopped emergency responses until storm conditions improve so that personnel can respond safely.
Winds in Myrtle Beach are gusting past 50 mph with power outages around the city slowly rising.
The total number of power outages across the Carolinas has climbed over 600,000. A majority of these outages are across eastern North Carolina.
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11:25 a.m. EDT Friday:
More than 12,000 people have taken shelter at 126 shelters across North Carolina.
"Hurricane Florence is so widespread, you will find it hard to find a North Carolina resident who has not been impacted. It has just come ashore and will be here for a long time. This is going to be a bad storm," Cooper said.
The city of Washington, North Carolina, is reporting about 100 water rescues since 2:30 a.m. Friday.
Rescues throughout the state are being conducted by a number of different teams, according to Mike Sprayberry, the director of North Carolina Emergency Management.
"Swift water rescue rescuers are conducting rescue missions in counties, along with county rescue teams," Sprayberry said.
Members of the North Carolina National Guard are also responding to calls for rescue.
Ethan Hall, right, Michael Jenkins, center, and Nash Fralick, left, examine damage to Tidewater Brewing Co. in Wilmington, N.C., after Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Damage has been reported at the Crows Nest Marina in Atlantic Beach.
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10:33 a.m. EDT Friday:
Here is a look at some of the highest estimated wind gusts and rainfall totals so far from Florence:
A look at some of the highest radar-estimated rainfall totals. Some of the estimates may be unconfirmed.
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9:48 a.m. EDT Friday:
There are over 500,000 customers without power in the Carolinas.
The center of the eye of Hurricane Florence has been wobbling southwestward near the coast of southwestern North Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Four people were arrested in Brunswick County, North Carolina, Thursday night after several reported robbery attempts.
Officials in the city of Greenville, North Carolina, say that flash flooding has begun around their region.
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8:38 a.m. EDT Friday:
A New Hanover County Emergency Management official states that there is a structural fire related to storm damage on Bay Blossum Road in Wilmington, North Carolina. There is also a report of two large trees that have fallen on an apartment complex in Wilmington.
AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer is helping conduct water rescues in New Bern.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation continues to ensure that enough safety equipment is on hand as Florence batters the region.
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7:49 a.m. EDT Friday:
Florence has finally made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, as a Category 1 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center reports the storm's landfall occurred at 7:15 a.m.
(Photo/NOAA Satellites)
A 105-mph wind gust was reported at Wilmington International Airport.
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6:56 a.m. EDT Friday:
A 98-mph wind gust was reported near Bayshore, North Carolina, while a peak wind gust of 91 mph was measured at Wilmington, North Carolina, International Airport.
AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer is on the scene in New Bern, North Carolina, reporting on the serious flooding situation that is ongoing in the town.
City officials have said that the town's water system is currently stable and the water is safe to drink.
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5:40 a.m. EDT Friday:
About 70 people have been evacuated from the Triangle Motor Inn in Jacksonville, North Carolina, after hurricane-force winds compromised the hotel's structural integrity, according to reports. No one was found to be injured.
Meanwhile, in New Bern, North Carolina, more than 100 people were awaiting rescue as devastating storm surge impacted the waterfront city.
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2:26 a.m. EDT Friday:
As of 2:00 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Florence is located about 35 miles east of Wilmington, North Carolina, with sustained winds of 90 mph. According to the National Hurricane Center, hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center of the storm.
In Wilmington, winds have been gusting frequently to nearly 65 mph. At nearby Wrightsville Beach, AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer has witnessed power flashes.
Winds may lessen there for a time as Florence's eye wall inches onshore. Just north of the eyewall, devastating storm surge and destructive winds will ensue.
AccuWeather Interactive radar capture of Hurricane Florence at 2:05 a.m. EDT, Sep. 14, 2018.
"[New Bern, North Carolina] is 100 percent out of power. The city is totally out of power," Mayor Dana Outlaw said to CNN earlier this evening.
Florence is moving to the west-northwest at only 6 mph, meaning crews may not be able to gain access to affected areas in order to restore power for several days.
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1:24 a.m. EDT Friday:
As of 1:00 a.m. Thursday, over 164,000 customers were without power in North Carolina. Tropical-storm-force wind gusts have been recorded as far inland as Hope Mills, North Carolina - nearly 100 miles from the coast.
A USGS gauge on the Neuse River at New Bern, North Carolina, reported 10.1 feet of inundation at 1:00 a.m.
Portions of the southern Chesapeake Bay are reportedly entering minor flood stage due to persistent onshore wind flow from Florence. Gauges near Yorktown and Mobjack Bay, Virginia, could reach major flood stage during high tide on Friday afternoon.
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For older reports about Hurricane Florence, click here.
