The Latest on Hurricane Florence, Potential Impacts on LI

Hurricane Florence is a Category 4 storm with winds of 140 miles per hour that is heading toward Virginia and the Carolinas, where mandatory evacuations have been ordered. On Long Island, moisture from Florence may begin to impact the area early next week, but the storm will be a shell of its former self by then.

"At this time, it appears the only impacts the Tri-State area will experience from Florence is rough surf and dangerous rip currents possibly through the end of the week," the National Weather Service says.

Florence will likely make landfall Thursday morning somewhere in North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia.

National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said in a late Monday afternoon briefing that the impacts of Florence will be felt far outside the cone from rainfall and strong winds. He said the storm will almost "park" over North Carolina. "That spells problems because the longer it waits, the more that it sits the more rain we have," he said, adding that water kills 90 percent of people in tropical systems.

Saturated soil, high winds, and downed trees and power lines are going to be a major issue in the Mid-Atlantic. "Additionally there are going to be problems with dangerous, life-threatening storm surge all the way up through the Virginia coast," he said, and possibly Maryland.

The full Long Island forecast:

Monday Night- Rain likely before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between midnight and 3am, then a chance of showers after 3am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 9 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday- A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday Night- A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday- A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph.

Wednesday Night- A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind 5 to 7 mph.

Thursday- Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.

Thursday Night- Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Friday- Partly sunny, with a high near 78.

Friday Night- Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Saturday- Partly sunny, with a high near 77.

Saturday Night- Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Sunday- Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

Sunday Night- A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Monday- A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 78.

Reporting by Deb Belt / Main image of Florence as seen from space by NASA