Weather
Hurricane Florence Latest: Storm Expected To Hit Far South Of NYC
The storm is still many miles offshore, but the National Hurricane Center is predicting it to hit North and South Carolina.
UPDATED 9/10/19: The National Hurricane Center said Monday its latest predictions show Florence tracking towards North and South Carolina, many miles south of New York City. It is expected to make landfall on Friday. It is still too far out to sea for forecasters to be certain about its path.
A category 3 hurricane churning hundreds of miles off the East Coast could be on track to hit land – with New York in its crosshairs, experts warned Thursday.
Hurricane Florence's 115 mph winds were stirring up the Atlantic east of Bermuda Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. It's moving northwest at 12 mph and is expected to remain a strong hurricane for several days.
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
AccuWeather meteorologists said there is a very real chance the North Eastern U.S. will be affected.
It is "forecast to push close enough to Bermuda and the United States East Coast to have indirect impact and may evolve into a serious direct threat," said a forecaster with the service, Alex Sosnowski.
Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Hurricane #Florence hitting stronger upper level winds this morning, weakening it from a category 4 to a 3. Weakening may continue next 24-36 hours as it passes through this jet, then restrengthening expected. Morning models still show large spread in track scenarios next week. pic.twitter.com/iWchna3f7t
— Mike Thomas (@MikeTFox5) September 6, 2018
He added, "If the high pressure area remains strong, then Florence may complete a 3,500-mile-long journey over the Atlantic and be guided right into the U.S. East Coast somewhere from the Carolinas to southern New England sometime during Wednesday or Thursday of next week."
At the least, swells from the storm will begin to hit the East Coast early next week, with the National Hurricane Center warning they will cause life threatening surf and rip currents.
Florence is the first storm above category 3 to form this season and has formed as the Atlantic hurricane season reaches its peak.
Tropical Storm Gordon hit Mississippi Tuesday, with the remnants expected to bring rain to the New York area by next week.
Though there's no need to panic right now, experts are advising that people on the East Coast continue to monitor the forecast over the coming days. Also, with this being peak hurricane season, it can't hurt to make sure you have a good emergency kit with supplies for three days and that you trim trees that could fall on your house.
Lead image by the National Hurricane Center
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