Hurricane Florence: The storm of a lifetime

A life threatening hurricane is moving towards the US. 

At the coast, Florence could bring up to 6 meters high storm surge, enough to eclipse the east coast record and overwhelm fragile and densely-populated areas. After making landfall, the most reliable weather models show Florence stalling over the Carolinas and Virginia for up to four days, similar to what happened in Texas with Hurricane Harvey last year.

Since 1851, only three other hurricanes have targeted the Carolinas at Category 4 strength with Hugo in 1989 the most recent. In the generation since Hugo hit, millions more people have moved to the southeast coast greatly increasing the region’s vulnerability. Winds as strong as Florence’s will produce “catastrophic” damage, according to the National Hurricane Center’s explanation of the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale. “Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.” Evacuations are currently underway.