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Hurricane Florence: 'Life-threatening' storm starts to lash US | Hurricane Florence: 'Life-threatening' storm starts to lash US |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The outer bands of Hurricane Florence are lashing parts of the US East Coast. | The outer bands of Hurricane Florence are lashing parts of the US East Coast. |
Officials warn of life-threatening storm surges in both North and South Carolina as the hurricane moves towards land with maximum sustained wind speeds of 90mph (150 km/h). | Officials warn of life-threatening storm surges in both North and South Carolina as the hurricane moves towards land with maximum sustained wind speeds of 90mph (150 km/h). |
More than 100,000 homes are already without power as weather conditions begin to worsen. | More than 100,000 homes are already without power as weather conditions begin to worsen. |
Officials have warned the storm has the potential to kill "a lot of people" amid risks of "catastrophic" flooding. | Officials have warned the storm has the potential to kill "a lot of people" amid risks of "catastrophic" flooding. |
More than a million people along the coastlines of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia have been ordered to evacuate. | More than a million people along the coastlines of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia have been ordered to evacuate. |
Thousands had taken shelter in emergency facilities by Thursday night. | Thousands had taken shelter in emergency facilities by Thursday night. |
Photographs showed residents crowded into corridors with blankets on inflatable mattresses and mats. | Photographs showed residents crowded into corridors with blankets on inflatable mattresses and mats. |
What is the latest? | What is the latest? |
Conditions deteriorated throughout Thursday as wind speeds gradually strengthened in coastal areas. | Conditions deteriorated throughout Thursday as wind speeds gradually strengthened in coastal areas. |
Some areas of North Carolina saw almost a foot of rain just a few hours, and footage showed sea levels begin to surge in land. | Some areas of North Carolina saw almost a foot of rain just a few hours, and footage showed sea levels begin to surge in land. |
At 23:00 local time (03:00 GMT) the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said wind speeds had slightly lowered, making it a category one hurricane. | |
The NHC says that despite the gradual lowering in wind strength, the storm remains extremely dangerous because of the high volume of rainfall and storm surges predicted. | |
"Inland flooding kills a lot of people, unfortunately, and that's what we're about to see," said Brock Long, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema). | |
He said that people living near rivers, streams and lowland areas in the region were most at risk. | He said that people living near rivers, streams and lowland areas in the region were most at risk. |
How bad is it expected to get? | How bad is it expected to get? |
The latest weather predictions show the storm slowing to a near standstill as it pummels the coast with "copious amounts of rain" from Thursday night to Saturday. | The latest weather predictions show the storm slowing to a near standstill as it pummels the coast with "copious amounts of rain" from Thursday night to Saturday. |
Wind speeds are only expected to weaken on Saturday as the storm moves slowly across land. | Wind speeds are only expected to weaken on Saturday as the storm moves slowly across land. |
Meteorologists have warned floodwaters may rise up to 13ft (4m) in areas as some rivers see their flows "reversed". | Meteorologists have warned floodwaters may rise up to 13ft (4m) in areas as some rivers see their flows "reversed". |
Parts of the Carolina coast are expecting 20-30in (50-75cm) of rain, with isolated regions receiving up to 40in of downpour. | |
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is imposing a 12-hour curfew from 19:00 local time on Thursday. | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is imposing a 12-hour curfew from 19:00 local time on Thursday. |
Petrol stations in the area are reporting shortages. Energy companies predict that one to three million homes and businesses may lose power. | |
Officials have warned restoring electricity could take days or even weeks. | |
Over 1,400 flights have been cancelled, according to FlightAware.com, as most of the coastal region's airports are closed to ride out the storm. | Over 1,400 flights have been cancelled, according to FlightAware.com, as most of the coastal region's airports are closed to ride out the storm. |
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper warned people: "Today the threat becomes a reality." | North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper warned people: "Today the threat becomes a reality." |
Emergency workers are arriving from other parts of the US to aid in rescues. | Emergency workers are arriving from other parts of the US to aid in rescues. |
The Coast Guard has shallow-water response boats ready to help trapped residents. | The Coast Guard has shallow-water response boats ready to help trapped residents. |
Is global warming to blame? | Is global warming to blame? |
The relationship between climate change and hurricanes is complex. | |
Warmer seas power hurricanes. So, as the temperature of ocean water goes up, we might expect the intensity of hurricanes to increase in future. | |
A hotter atmosphere can also hold more water, so this should allow hurricanes to dump more water on affected areas. | A hotter atmosphere can also hold more water, so this should allow hurricanes to dump more water on affected areas. |
But there are so many factors that contribute to these rare events, it has been difficult to tease out clear trends from the data. | But there are so many factors that contribute to these rare events, it has been difficult to tease out clear trends from the data. |
Are you in the area? How are you preparing for the hurricane? Let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? How are you preparing for the hurricane? Let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |