The storm, upgraded to the lowest-level Category 1 hurricane Thursday afternoon, was bearing down on Tallahassee, Fla., at 1:45 a.m. Friday at 14 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center. Locations near Raleigh and Fayetteville could experience gusts up to 25 or 35mph.
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A tornado watch has also been issued for Beaufort County until 8 a.m. on Friday.
The storm’s center should continue to move further inland across southeastern Georgia on Friday and into the Carolinas overnight and Saturday, forecasters said.
Hurricane Hermine has barrelled ashore in Florida’s Big Bend, killing one person, raising a storm surge that destroyed beachside buildings and bringing heavy rain and tens of thousands of power outages.
As of shortly after 1 a.m., power was out for 32,000 customers in the city of around 181,000, the local government said on Twitter.
Florida’s governor Rick Scott, who declared a state of emergency in 51 out of 67 counties, warned storm surges remained potentially “life-threatening” and urged Gulf Coast residents to take precautions. As Hermine approaches New England, she’ll likely be a post-tropical storm, Monday and Tuesday. Police had the road blocked because of flooding.
Are people being evacuated from their homes? Pasco County Fire Rescue and sheriff’s deputies used high-water vehicles to rescue people from rising water.
Once the storm hits land, it is expected to weaken and move north up along the East Coast. As of 4 a.m. EDT, the storm is centered about 35 miles west-southwest of Valdosta, Georgia, and is moving north-northeast at 14 mph.
The governors of Georgia and North Carolina have declared emergencies in areas affected by the storms. Injuries were reported in Tallahassee as trees fell onto homes.
Until then, though residents will have to contend with brisk winds, flooded roads, and increased rain chances. The National Weather Service said much of northwest Florida and southern Georgia will be blanketed with 5 to 10 inches of rain in total through today, with maximum amounts of as much as 15 inches falling in isolated areas.
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While it’s not in the direct path, the NWS says the Upstate should expect showers and thunderstorms associated with the outermost band of the system.
