Hurricane Florence weakens as it approaches coast, Georgia declares state of emergency

The National Hurricane Center provided a complete undated forecast for Hurricane Florence at 5 p.m. Eastern time.

• As of 5 p.m., the eye of Hurricane Florence was located near latitude 30.9 North and longitude 72.5 West, moving west-northwest at 17 mph. It is about 385 miles off the coast of Wilmington, North Carolina and 420 miles from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

• Storm surge and hurricane watches and warnings remain in effect for parts of the U.S. east coast but have not been extended to cover more ground as of right now.

• Hurricane Florence is still forecasted to weaken somewhat as it approaches the coast of North Carolina or South Carolina Thursday and Friday.

• Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 120 mph with higher gusts. Florence is now a category 3 hurricane, but it is still expected to be a major hurricane through landfall.

• Hurricane force winds currently extend up to 70 miles from the center of the storm, with tropical-storm-force winds extending 195 miles out.

• Florence is expected to produce 20 to 30 inches of accumulated rainfall, with isolated areas of up to 40 inches, in portions of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency for all the state’s counties earlier today due to the threat of heavy rainfall and windy conditions.

Other places to declare states of emergency ahead of the storm include North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia. Maryland and Washington DC.

Complete Hurricane Florence Coverage