Madeline was 140 miles southeast of the Big Island city of Hilo early Wednesday with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, slower than Tuesday’s 120 mph winds.
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Rainfall was expected to slacken for areas to the east, such as Beaufort, where an inch or two was forecast.
The storm is heading north toward Florida’s Big Bend, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.
As of Wednesday morning, Madeline had winds of 80 miles per hour, making it a Category 1 hurricane.
As of 5 a.m. ET, a hurricane watch was in effect from Florida’s Anclote River to Indian Pass – with a tropical storm warning in effect from the former to the Walton/Bay County line.
At the same time, a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico prompted the U.S.
In North Carolina, Jennifer Scarborough is the manager of a marina in Hatteras.
Though for the time being the storm is essentially stationary, movement toward the northeast is forecast to begin by tonight.
Crowds had thinned on Outer Banks’ beaches ahead of the storms.
Hermine is now located well off shore of Florida’s Gulf coast, just more than 400 miles west-southwest of Tampa.
Coastal Carteret County emergency officials issued an advisory Tuesday saying wind problems were likely to be “mostly minor”, but advised residents in case trees topple or lightweight objects are blown around.
“We’re going to be on the wet side of the storm”, Ulrich said.
In nearby Frisco, whipped-up waves attracted out-of-town surfers.
Scott warned that the storm could bring the potential of lightning, tornadoes, flooding and standing water that could heighten the risk of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been found across the state.
Steven Kavika, a 58-year-old surf instructor, said he relished the opportunity.
A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area and are typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical storm-force winds.
Tropical Depression #9 is likely to become a Tropical Storm later today, and continues to track toward Florida, Georgia, and eventually the coast of SC.
Hurricane Hermine is located about 120 miles west-southwest of Cedar Key, Florida, and is moving to the north-northeast at 14 mph.
“We are expecting plenty of tropical downpours in Central Florida over the next couple of days”, News 6 meteorologist Candace Campos said. As much as 15 inches (38 cm) could fall from central to northern Florida, National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
A tropical storm watch was also added for the Atlantic coast from Mainland in Florida to Altamaha Sound, Ga. Pat McCrory said he still wants people to stay alert. Foot traffic was sparse.
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Depending on the track, the Carolinas could also get some rain from the system over the Labor Day weekend.
