Portions of the Carolinas now under storm surge, hurricane watches ahead of Florence

The National Hurricane Center provided a complete undated forecast for Hurricane Florence at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

• As of 11 a.m., the eye of Hurricane Florence was located near latitude 26.7 North and longitude 65.3 West, moving west-northwest at 16 mph. It is about 390 miles off the coast of Bermuda and 905 miles from Cape Fear, North Carolina.

• Storm surge and hurricane watches remain in effect for parts of the U.S. east coast, from Edisto Beach, South Carolina northward to the North Carolina-Virginia border. Those watches have not been extended to include other areas as of now.

• Hurricane Florence is still forecasted to approach the coast of North Carolina or South Carolina Thursday and Friday.

• Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 130 mph with higher gusts. Florence is still a category 4 hurricane, and both re-strengthening and additional strengthening are expected to occur over the next day.

• Weakening is expected to occur again Thursday, but Florence is still projected to be a major hurricane.

• Hurricane force winds currently extend up to 40 miles from the center of the storm, with tropical-storm-force winds extending 150 miles out.

• Florence is expected to produce 15 to 20 inches of accumulated rainfall, with isolated areas of up to 30 inches, in portions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

A storm surge watch means there is a possibility rising water could move inland from the coastline, creating life-threatening conditions. This watch remains in effect for at least the next 48 hours.

A hurricane watch is generally issued 48 before the first tropical-storm-force winds are anticipated. It signals to residents that it is time to make outside preparations before doing so becomes dangerous.

Complete Hurricane Florence Coverage