‘Massive’ storm may have big impact

Tracking north of state, hurricane might make landfall in Carolinas.

Hurricane Florence is looming over the Southeast this week and promises to be a “massive” storm.

The National Hurricane Center and local meteorologists with Severe Weather Team 2 have been following every development in Hurricane Florence’s strength and path. Here’s what you need to know.

When and where should Florence make landfall?

Florence could reach the Southeast coast by Friday morning, according to Channel 2 Action News.

As of Sunday, it was a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds, meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

The latest projection by the National Hurricane Center has Florence making landfall along the coast of the Carolinas, slightly north of Georgia’s coast.

However, the National Hurricane Center reported that “given the uncertainty in track and intensity forecasts at those time ranges, it’s too soon to determine the exact timing” Florence will make landfall.

Monahan said everyone from the Georgia coast to the Carolinas needs to be aware of Florence’s

development as it becomes more likely to make an East Coast landfall.

He said a major shift toward Georgia before landfall is “not something we think is probable.”

He said a curve back out toward the sea and away from land becomes less likely as high pressure builds north of Florence and as it gets closer to the East Coast.

How strong might Florence be?

Florence’s strength and categorization are constantly changing. It reached its peak strength on Wednesday out in the Atlantic when it briefly became a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mph winds.

Monahan said Florence could become a Category 3 or 4 storm in the days ahead.

“This is a massive storm,” he said Sunday.

The National Hurricane Center considers Category 3 hurricanes and stronger major hurricanes, meaning winds should be stronger than 110 mph. A Category 4 hurricane has winds in excess of 130 mph. It’s the first major hurricane to form in the central Atlantic Ocean this year, Monahan said.

At either strength, homes can incur major damage and trees can be snapped or uprooted. Even in nearby areas where the storm doesn’t make landfall, rough seas and beach erosion are highly likely, Monahan said.

It could bring 30- to 40-foot waves to the coast, he said, as well as beach erosion.

“(The hurricane) will have a major impact on the East Coast.”

What is being done in preparation?

Two states have already declared states of emergency in preparation for Florence’s possible landfall.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency on Friday evening, urging residents to use the weekend to prepare for the possibility of a natural disaster. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has not issued a state of emergency, but his chief of staff, Chris Riley, said the Georgia Emergency Management Agency will begin tracking and monitoring the storm today.

“At this point, Gov. Deal plans to have GEMA stand up the SOC (State Operations Center) on Monday and begin tracking and monitoring (Florence), while coordinating with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and local communities,” Riley said.

Is this the last storm of hurricane season?

Nope. In fact, there’s already a “conga line” of storms coming off the west coast of Africa that all have the potential to develop into tropical storms or hurricanes, Channel 2 chief meteorologist Glenn Burns said.

Tropical Storm Helene and tropical depression nine have already formed, and at least two other potential disturbances were identified over west Africa.