US - Hurricane Florence reduced to a category 2 status - 11 pm ET, September 12, 2018

[Pathfinder]

NWSVerified account @NWS FollowFollow

@NWS

More

The center of Florence will not move far at all for a few days. With such a large storm, this means a long-duration event with plenty of opportunity for #Florence to pile up storm surge, batter those in its path with winds, erode beaches, and drop catastrophic amounts of rainfall

[Pathfinder]

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/radar_lite.php?rid=ltx&product=NCR&loop=yes

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/Conus/southeast_loop.php

[Pathfinder]

191
WTNT31 KNHC 132356
TCPAT1

BULLETIN
Hurricane Florence Intermediate Advisory Number 58A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL062018
800 PM EDT Thu Sep 13 2018

...SUSTAINED HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS OCCURRING ALONG THE NORTH
CAROLINA COAST...
...LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND RAINFALL EXPECTED...


SUMMARY OF 800 PM EDT...0000 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...33.9N 76.4W
ABOUT 85 MI...135 KM ESE OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 145 MI...230 KM E OF MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH...155 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 305 DEGREES AT 5 MPH...7 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...955 MB...28.20 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina
* Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico
Rivers

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina
* North of Duck North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina
* Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* North of Duck North Carolina to Cape Charles Light Virginia
* Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort
* Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina

Interests elsewhere in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states
should monitor the progress of Florence.

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline. For
a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 12
to 24 hours.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.


DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), data from NOAA Doppler weather radars and
an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the
center of the eye of Florence was located near latitude 33.9 North,
longitude 76.4 West. Florence is moving slowly toward the northwest
near 5 mph (7 km/h), but a slow west-northwestward motion is
expected to resume tonight or Friday. A slow westward to
west-southwestward motion is expected Friday night and Saturday. On
the forecast track, the center of Florence will approach the coasts
of North and South Carolina later tonight, then move near or over
the coast of southern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina
in the hurricane warning area on Friday. A slow motion across
portions of eastern and central South Carolina is forecast Friday
night through Saturday night.

Wind data from the Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum
sustained winds remain near 100 mph (155 km/h) with higher gusts.
Little change in strength is expected before the eye of Florence
reaches the coast, with slow weakening expected after the center
moves inland or meanders near the coast. More significant weakening
is forecast on Saturday as Florence moves farther inland over
central South Carolina.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195
miles (315 km). A NOAA observing site at Cape Lookout, North
Carolina recently reported a sustained wind of 82 mph (131 km/h)
and a gust to 97 mph (156 km/h). A Weatherflow station at Fort
Macon, North Carolina, recently reported a sustained wind of 67 mph
(108 km/h) and a gust to 99 mph (159 km/h).

Data from the plane indicate that the minimum central pressure
remains 955 mb (28.20 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water has the
potential to reach the following heights above ground...

Cape Fear NC to Cape Lookout NC...7-11 ft, with locally higher
amounts in the Neuse, Pamlico, Pungo, and Bay Rivers
Cape Lookout NC to Ocracoke Inlet NC...6-9 ft
South Santee River SC to Cape Fear NC...4-6 ft
Ocracoke Inlet NC to Salvo NC...4-6 ft
Salvo NC to North Carolina/Virginia Border...2-4 ft
Edisto Beach SC to South Santee River SC...2-4 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
destructive waves. Surge-related flooding can vary greatly over
short distances. For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.

RAINFALL: Florence is expected to produce heavy and excessive
rainfall in the following areas...

Southeastern coastal North Carolina into far northeastern South
Carolina...20 to 30 inches, isolated 40 inches. This rainfall will
produce catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river
flooding.

Remainder of South Carolina and North Carolina into southwest
Virginia...6 to 12 inches, isolated 15 inches. This rainfall will
produce life-threatening flash flooding.

WIND: Hurricane conditions have reached portions of the coast of
North Carolina and are expected to spread elsewhere within the
hurricane warning area overnight or early Friday. Tropical
storm conditions are expected to spread inland and south across
the remainder of the warning areas through Saturday.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible in eastern and
southeastern North Carolina through Friday.

SURF: Swells generated by Florence are affecting Bermuda, portions
of the U.S. East Coast, and the northwestern and central Bahamas.
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip
current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather
office.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next complete advisory at 1100 PM EDT.

$$
Forecaster Berg

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT1+shtml/132356.shtml

[Pathfinder]

806
WTNT61 KNHC 140056 CCA
TCUAT1

Hurricane Florence Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL062018
900 PM EDT Thu Sep 13 2018

...900 PM POSITION UPDATE...
...HURRICANE CONDITIONS SPREADING ACROSS THE CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH
CAROLINA AREA...

A NOAA observing site at Cape Lookout, North Carolina, recently
reported a sustained wind of 83 mph (133 km/h) and a gust to
106 mph (170 km/h). A private weather station in Davis, North
Carolina, recently reported a sustained wind of 75 mph (120 km/h)
and a wind gust of 92 mph (148 km/h). A Weatherflow station at Fort
Macon, North Carolina, recently reported a sustained wind of 70 mph
(113 km/h) and a wind gust of 105 mph (169 km/h).

Water levels continue to rise quickly on the western side of
Pamlico Sound. A gauge at Oriental, North Carolina, on the Neuse
River is recording a water height of about 5.5 feet above normal
levels.


SUMMARY OF 900 PM EDT...0100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...34.0N 76.6W
ABOUT 75 MI...120 KM ESE OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 135 MI...215 KM E OF MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH...155 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 305 DEGREES AT 5 MPH...8 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...955 MB...28.20 INCHES

$$
Forecaster Beven

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCUAT1+shtml/140056.shtml

[Pathfinder]

HURRICANE FLORENCE 1 hour ago

'Slow poison' Florence drenches Carolinas, killing at least five
...
"It's like being stalked by a turtle," FEMA associate director Jeffrey Byard said about the slow-moving storm. "There's a lot of rain to come. There's a lot of rain that's fallen."

Officials warned residents that while the wind has backed off some, the torrential downpour will likely continue through the weekend, producing flash floods and possible landslides -- making it difficult for evacuated residents to return home and assess the damage.

Authorities have confirmed five deaths and fear the number will go higher as the tropical storm crawls westward Saturday across South Carolina.
...
New Bern, North Carolina Mayor Dana Outlaw urged residents not to return just yet.

"We have a lot of downed power lines," he told Fox News. "We're very concerned with these energized lines and folks could get hurt. So give the city time to get out and assess our infrasture and get the roads safe for you to travel."
...
Some towns have already seen 2 feet of rain from Florence, with forecasters saying the number could go as high 3 1/2 feet and trigger epic flooding inland into early next week.
...
The storm knocked out power to nearly 930,000 homes and businesses, and the number could keep rising.
...

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/09/15/weakening-florence-drenches-carolinas-as-death-toll-rises-rescues-ongoing.html

[Pathfinder]

NCDOTVerified account @NCDOT 44m44 minutes ago More



Please stay inside as #FlorenceNC continues to move across the state with winds, heavy rain and flooding. If you must be on the road, get travel conditions at http://drivenc.gov.

[Pathfinder]

645
WTNT31 KNHC 152339
TCPAT1

BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Florence Intermediate Advisory Number 66A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL062018
800 PM EDT Sat Sep 15 2018

...CENTER OF FLORENCE DRIFTING WESTWARD OVER SOUTH CAROLINA...
...FLASH FLOODING AND MAJOR RIVER FLOODING OCCURRING OVER A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE CAROLINAS...


SUMMARY OF 800 PM EDT...0000 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...33.6N 80.1W
ABOUT 45 MI...75 KM SSW OF FLORENCE SOUTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 65 MI...100 KM ESE OF COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 2 MPH...4 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...997 MB...29.44 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* South Santee River South Carolina to Surf City North Carolina

Interests elsewhere in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states
should monitor the progress of Florence due to the heavy rainfall
threat.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.


DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Florence was
located by NOAA Doppler radars near latitude 33.6 North, longitude
80.1 West. Florence is moving toward the west near 2 mph (4 km/h),
and a slow westward motion is expected to continue through tonight.
A turn toward the west-northwest and northwest is expected on
Sunday. Florence is forecast to turn northward through the Ohio
Valley by Monday.

Surface observations indicate that maximum sustained winds remain
near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts, mainly to the northeast and
east of the center in heavy rainbands over water. Gradual weakening
is forecast while Florence moves farther inland during the next
couple of days, and it is expected to weaken to a tropical
depression tonight or by Sunday morning.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km)
mainly to the east of the center near the coast and over water.
Within the past hour or two, a sustained wind of 46 mph (74 km/h)
with a gust to 59 mph (95 km/h) was reported at the Johnny Mercer
Pier in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. A wind gust to 45 mph
(72 km/h) was recently reported near Hartsville, South Carolina.

The estimated minimum central pressure based on nearby surface
observations is 997 mb (29.44 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
STORM SURGE: Water levels along the coast of North and South
Carolina are gradually receding. Some minor coastal flooding is
still possible through Sunday. For information specific to your
area, please see products issued by your local National Weather
Service forecast office.

RAINFALL: Florence is expected to produce heavy and excessive
rainfall in the following areas...

Southern and central portions of North Carolina into far northeast
South Carolina...an additional 15 to 20 inches, with storm totals
between 30 and 40 inches along the North Carolina coastal areas
south of Cape Hatteras. This rainfall will continue to produce
catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river
flooding.

Remainder of northern South Carolina into western North Carolina and
southwestern Virginia...5 to 10 inches, isolated 15 inches.

West-central Virginia into far eastern West Virginia, north of
Roanoke and west of Charlottesville, 3 to 6 inches, isolated 8
inches. These rainfall amounts will result in life-threatening
flash flooding and river flooding, along with an elevated risk for
landslides.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions will continue overnight in portions
of the warning area along the coast and also over large portions of
eastern North Carolina and extreme eastern South Carolina, with
tropical-storm-force wind gusts spreading well inland.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible in southeastern North
Carolina and northeastern South Carolina through tonight.

SURF: Swells generated by Florence are affecting Bermuda, portions
of the U.S. East Coast, and the northwestern and central Bahamas.
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip
current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather
office.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next complete advisory at 1100 PM EDT.

$$
Forecaster Berg

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT1+shtml/152339.shtml

[Pathfinder]

NWS Eastern RegionVerified account @NWSEastern 1h1 hour ago



Updated preliminary rainfall reports from Florence received as of 6 pm Saturday evening. With Tropical Storm Florence still crawling slowly to the west at 2 mph, many of these areas will see more heavy rain overnight, further exacerbating the very serious ongoing flooding.

[Pathfinder]

HURRICANE FLORENCE 1 hour ago

Weakened Florence remains dangerous as it works its way North

Lucia Suarez Sang By Lucia I. Suarez Sang | Fox News

Downgraded from hurricane to tropical depression, Florence continued Monday to wreak havoc in the Carolinas as it works its way north, dropping massive amounts of rainwater and flooding already saturated rivers.

The storm has already claimed the lives of 17 peoples ? including a 3-month-old who died after a pine tree crashed into a mobile home in Dallas, North Carolina. Officials blamed rain and wind from the remnants of the storm for causing the tree to fall, county spokesman James McConnell told the AP.
...
Despite its downgraded classification, Florence remains massive -- and a threat. Radar showed parts of the sprawling storm over six states, with North and South Carolina in the bullseye. Flash flood watches and warnings were still in effect.

Forecasters said Florence is expected to weaken some before re-intensifying as it transitions to an extratropical cyclone through Wednesday.
...
Meanwhile, the city of Wilmington, N.C., has been completely cut off by floodwaters and officials are asking for additional help from the National Guard.
...

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/09/17/weakened-florence-remains-dangerous-as-it-works-its-way-north.html

[Pathfinder]

Pig Excrement Spills Into North Carolina Floodwater

By Mark Niquette , Ari Natter , and Justina Vasquez
September 18, 2018, 4:01 AM CDT Updated on September 18, 2018, 12:19 PM CDT
...
Hurricane-wracked North Carolina faced a health and environmental crisis after at least 17 hog-waste lagoons were compromised and sewage plants across the state flooded, releasing millions of gallons of partially treated human discharge.
...
?We don?t think it?s a good idea for people to be swimming around in poop,? said John Rumpler, clean water program director for Environment America, a Colorado-based advocacy group. ?It?s a pretty serious public-health risk that people should be concerned about.?

Four days after deadly Hurricane Florence made landfall, much of the Tar Heel State?s low-lying east remained flooded and impassible. The storm, blamed for killing at least 34 people, damaged a Duke Energy Corp. coal-ash landfill and trapped workers at one of its nuclear plants near stricken Wilmington. The disaster, forecast to cost $22 billion, was wreaking havoc in myriad ways:
...
Hog waste contains E. coli and bacteria, Rumpler said. Sewage overflows, combined with high floodwaters, bring the prospect of ecological impacts including fish kills. Humans coming into contact with fecal matter risk viruses, parasitic infections and rashes.

?There are a lot of potentially nasty pathogens,? said Tara Smith, a professor of epidemiology at Kent State University in Ohio.
...
There is also the possibility of contamination from dead livestock, Smith said. Tens of thousands of hogs died in Floyd, but no similar tally could yet be made for Florence. But late Monday, Sanderson Farms Inc., one of the largest U.S. poultry companies, said that 60 North Carolina chicken houses and four breeding facilities were flooded. It estimated 1.7 million chickens were lost, and another 30 farms with about 211,000 birds each can?t get feed. More poultry may die if relief can?t get through, the company said.
...
That flowing water is itself polluted. North Carolina utilities reported that millions of gallons of raw sewage and partially treated wastewater were released into lakes, streams and city streets after systems lost power or were overwhelmed by rainfall that reached 40 inches in some places. Seven publicly owned sewage treatment plants aren?t working, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.
...

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-17/several-north-carolina-hog-waste-lagoons-flooded-by-hurricane