ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —  Florence continues to weaken and is now a category 2 hurricane.

The forecast for landfall is a little more defined this evening with Florence moving ashore Friday in southeastern North Carolina as a category 1 hurricane. This track may still shift a bit in the next 36 hours.

Florence contains maximum sustained winds of 110 mph and is expected to remain a hurricane as it nears the Carolina coast.

Slight weakening may occur at landfall, but overall this storm will impact areas from the southeastern United States to the mid-Atlantic coastline with life-threatening flooding and storm surge.

Swells generated by distant Florence are impacting the southeastern US, including Florida, and will continue to do so through the rest of this week.  

Florence is now moving to the northwest at 17 mph. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center;  tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 195 miles. The minimum central pressure is 957 mb.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR FLORENCE:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:

  • South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina
  • Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:

  • Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina
  • North of Duck North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

  • South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina
  • Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:

  • Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

  • North of Duck North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

  • North of the North Carolina/Virginia border to Cape Charles Light Virginia
  • Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort

Tropical Storm Isaac

Isaac has weakened slightly, but is still a strong tropical storm located approximately 220 miles east of Dominica.

Maximum sustained winds are 50 mph. Isaac is expected to maintain tropical storm status as it moves west toward the Lesser Antilles. While it is still too early to tell the future of Isaac beyond the Lesser Antilles, models are hinting it will battle wind shear and weaken in the Caribbean Sea. 

Isaac is expected to produce rainfall of 2-4” with some isolated totals near 8” across Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe. A storm surge of 2-4 feet above normal tide levels is possible.

Subtropical Storm Joyce

Subtropical Storm Joyce formed today over the chilly waters of the Atlantic.  It is no threat to land.

Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.

Make sure to watch our Tropics updates each hour at :49.