Hurricane Florence projected path: When will Florence track hit Carolinas?

Hurricane Florence will approach the coast of North Carolina and South Carolina tonight and strong winds and surf is already affecting the coastal areas.

The centre of the extremely dangerous storm is currently located about 130 miles east-southeast of Wilmington, North California and 185 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

With maximum sustained winds of 105mph Florence is a Category 2 hurricane being downgraded from a previous Category 5 hurricane.

Almost two million people in coastal areas of the Carolinas and Virginia have evacuated.

Hurricane Florence has potential to cause "massive damage" to the US southern east coast and mid-Atlantic.

AccuWeather Vice President of Forecasting and Graphics Operations Marshall Moss said: “There’s never been a storm like Florence.

“It was located farther north in the Atlantic than any other storm to ever hit the Carolinas, so what we’re forecasting is unprecedented.”

He added: “Also, most storms coming into the Carolinas tend to move northward, and this storm looks like it’s going to stall over the region and potentially bring tremendous life-threatening

flooding.”

Storm surges up to 12 feet along the coast and up to 30 inches of rain into next week will also threaten parts of South Carolina and North Carolina in the coming days.

A long recovery is predicted for the states after the major hurricane hits.

An NOAA reporting station just reported a sustained wind of 55mph and a gust to 70mph at Cape Lookout, North California.

Conditions have already begun to deteriorate in North Carolina's Outer Banks island and the state’s southeastern coast.

According to AccuWeather there is a potential scenario where Florence will stall or significantly reduce its speed which could prolong the effects of damaging winds, storm surge flooding and

beach erosion.

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Well-built buildings can sustain substantial damage and trees will likely be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed.

The fallen trees will isolate residential areas, power outages can last for months and most of the areas hit by the storm is expected to be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

The National Hurricane Centre has issued storm surge watches and hurricane watches for portions on the Carolinas and Virginia and residents are urged to pay attention to advice given by

local authorities.

Life-threatening surf and rip currents will also affect Bermuda and portions of the US East Coast this week.

NOAA’s latest advisory also reports of a tornado threat as the weather system is approaching land: “A few tornadoes are possible in eastern North Carolina through Friday,” the report told.

The centre of the extremely dangerous storm is currently located about 130 miles east-southeast of Wilmington, North California and 185 miles east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

NOAA’s most recent report said: “On the forecast track, the centre of Florence will approach the coasts of North and South Carolina later today.”

Follow Express.co.uk's live path tracking of Hurricane Florence HERE.

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