Florence is a powerful Category 4 hurricane. It could turn out to be one of the strongest to ever hit the East Coast.

According to the National Hurricane Center, it’s too early to know exactly how South Carolina will be impacted. As of 11 p.m. Monday Florence was a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 MPH and higher gusts. It is a ‘major hurricane.’ Florence is moving west at 13 MPH. It should pick up some momentum as it nears the mainland.

Florence’s “cone of uncertainty” covers the South Carolina coast from just north of Charleston and North Carolina and Virginia. It shifted slightly north overnight Monday. Still, any place included in the cone could be threatened.

We will likely see rain, strong winds, and significant storm surge along the coast.
But forecasters cannot give a definitive answer of where Hurricane Florence will hit. We should all be paying attention as the storm comes in.

The hurricane also increases the risk of rip currents along the coast of South Carolina.