Florence: Hurricane Warning For Parts Of South Carolina Coast

COLUMBIA, SC — Residents of coastal South Carolina under evacuation orders had to leave their homes beginning at noon on Tuesday as Hurricane Florence, a dangerous category four storm, barrels its way towards the east coast. In its 5 p.m. advisory, the National Hurricane Center said the storm has strengthened slightly and was now packing wind speeds of 140 miles per hour with higher wind gusts.

On Tuesday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster lifted evacuation orders for the majority of residents in Beaufort, Colleton and Jasper counties. Edisto Beach in Colleton County and all other areas are still under a mandatory evacuation order, according to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. Horry, Georgetown, Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties remain under mandatory evacuation orders, according to a press release from McMaster's office. The evacuations are now only for residents along the central and northern South Carolina coasts and Edisto Beach.

Florence is expected to approach areas of the North and South Carolina coasts that are under a hurricane watch on Thursday and Friday, according to the NHC. Tropical storm-force winds could arrive in the U.S. late Wednesday at the earliest and most likely on Thursday morning, according to the NHC, which added that Wednesday should be the last full day for residents to prepare for the hurricane.

Below are the zones under evacuation orders:

• Horry County Evacuation Zones A, B, C
• Georgetown County Evacuation Zones A, B, C
• Charleston County Evacuation Zones A, B, C
• Dorchester County Evacuation Zones D, E, F
• Berkeley County Evacuation Zones B, G, H, I

The NHC said Florence is expected to begin restrengthening later in the day on Tuesday and "continue a slow strengthening trend for the next day or so." The NHC forecasts that the hurricane is expected to weaken on Thursday but cautioned that it is expected to be "an extremely dangerous major hurricane through landfall."

A hurricane warning is now in effect for South Santee River in South Carolina to Duck, North Carolina. A hurricane warning is also in effect for Albemarle and Pamlico sounds. A storm surge watch and a hurricane watch is in effect from Edisto Beach in South Carolina to the South Santee River. A storm surge watch and hurricane watch is also in effect north of Duck, North Carolina to the Virginia border. A storm surge warning is in effect for South Santee River to Duck, North Carolina and for Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers. A tropical storm watch is in effect north of the North Carolina/Virginia border to Cape Charles Light in Virginia and for the Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort.

Residents evacuating the north and central South Carolina coasts can find information on emergency shelter on the South Carolina Emergency Management Division website. Shelter information is posted live on the website as soon as it is available. The SCEMD also has an iPhone and Android app. Residents can also visit the "Know Your Zone" website to see if they are under an evacuation order.

Along with life-threatening storm surges, the NHC says the hurricane will bring life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding and significant river flooding over portions of the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic states beginning late this week. Damaging hurricane-force winds are also likely along parts of the coast.

SEE ALSO:

• Hurricane Florence: Info On Changing Delta, United Flights

Photo: This GOES East satellite image taken Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. EDT, and provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Florence in the Atlantic Ocean as it threatens the U.S. East Coast, including Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina. Millions of Americans are preparing for what could be one of the most catastrophic hurricanes to hit the Eastern Seaboard in decades. Mandatory evacuations begin at noon Tuesday, for parts of the Carolinas and Virginia (NOAA via Associated Press)