WILMINGTON — One of the hardest parts of dealing with a hurricane are the unknowns involved like the when to expect the worst of the storm; while predictions are unfortunately not exact, they can offer an idea of when to expect the worst of the storm.
According to Steven Pfaff, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service, residents in the Cape Fear area can expect heavy rains and strong winds starting today.
“Rainfall from 20-30-inches with a few areas up to 40-inches across southeast NC, large swath of 10-20-inches amounts extending farther inland into the Carolinas Windspeeds (from) 80-100-miles-per-hour winds possible with gusts to 110-115 across mainly coastal areas of southeast NC,” Pfaff said.
According to the National Hurricane Center, storm-force winds will likely reach the Cape Fear region early Thursday afternoon and Winds are expected to persist into the weekend.
Storm surge is also expected to begin Thursday and remain up until Saturday, according to Pfaff. Heavy rains with the potential of flooding will also begin Thursday and will continue throughout the weekend.
“Tropical storm force winds would spread farther inland during Thursday afternoon and evening for inland areas of southeast North Carolina and Thursday evening into Friday morning inland areas of northeast South Carolina,” according to Pfaff.
The threat of tornados is considered moderate and the threat will remain until Friday – this threat is track dependent however. Extreme marine conditions including strong surf and rip currents is expected to persist through Sunday.
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