Michael Bastasch, DCNF
- Hurricane Florence made landfall at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina Friday morning.
- The Category 1 hurricane brought 90-mile-per-hour winds, heavy rain and storm surge.
- Rescuers have saved hundreds trapped by the storm and nearly half a million people are without electricity.
Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday morning in North Carolina, bringing with it heavy rainfall, hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge that’s flooded coastal towns.
Florence touched down at Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, at 7:15 am. The Category 1 storm’s eye wall brought 90-mile-per-hour winds to Wrightsville, but not before the beach town was inundated with ocean water.
Per @NHC_Atlantic, #Hurricane #Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina at 7:15 AM EDT (1115 UTC) with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph (150 km/h), and a minimum central pressure estimate of 958 mb (28.29″). (@NOAA GOES-East imagery) pic.twitter.com/2ONwfAmhmt
— NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 14, 2018
The hurricane’s impacts are being felt across the southeastern U.S., including South Carolina and as far north as Virginia. Florence is expected to continue southwest before turning northwest on Saturday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts.
Despite the storm only being Category 1, NHC warned that “life-threatening storm surges and hurricane-force winds” will continue. The Center also said “catastrophic freshwater flooding expected over portions of North and South Carolina.”
As Florence made landfall, high winds kicked up at Wrightsville Beach. The town and nearby areas were hit with storm surge that flooded streets and homes.
We are getting nailed by #hurricane force winds and blinding rain at Wrightsville Beach. We should be penetrating the calm eye soon, current barometric pressure 964mb and falling. #Florence pic.twitter.com/3QXWyuWSEQ
— Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) September 14, 2018
.???
A few pictures from early this morning this is close to Wrightsville Beach, and I have some family in New Bern. Everyone stay safe.. It’s Windy and it’s heading toward my direction.??Hurricane #Florence has made landfall as a Category 1 storm near Wrightsville Beach, pic.twitter.com/aoPsgui9pn
— leeann0252 (@leeann0252) September 14, 2018
As Florence’s eye wall passed over Wrightsville Beach, residents and reporters were able to capture the eerie quiet before the storm picked up again.
Video from inside calm eye as a well defined eyewall approaches our location during Hurricane #Florence at Wrightsville Beach. pic.twitter.com/HIghfIeTHQ
— Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) September 14, 2018
In the town of New Bern, the Neuse River overflowed. Storm surge inundated the North Carolina coastal town, contributing to flooding.
Video shows storm surge from Hurricane #Florence begin to inundate New Bern, North Carolina as the Neuse River overflowed its banks and flooded parts of the town. https://t.co/4p1JzVCrLz pic.twitter.com/k7pmZkRDqc
— ABC News (@ABC) September 14, 2018
I think this speaks for itself. Union point in New Bern, North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/1LxtrdCJgY
— Mark Sudduth (@hurricanetrack) September 13, 2018
Storm surge brought debris about 800 yards from the Neuse’s banks, according to MSNBC contributor Garrett Haake. A local man said he saw a dumpster floating in the streets Thursday night
Here’s a good visualization of how far into New Bern #hurricaneflorence pushed water at the last high tide. Look at all that debris it left behind pic.twitter.com/r29Pd2nzLL
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) September 14, 2018
Rescuers were working to save at least 150 trapped in flooding from storm surge in New Bern. Emergency crews already pulled out 200 people trapped by the storm, according to Fox 46 Charlotte.
Wilmington also saw high winds, torrential rainfall and storm surge. ABC News meteorologist Ginger Zee reported there were “signs flying across the roads here and the deck we are standing on, boards have started ripping up.”
“…signs flying across the roads here and the deck we are standing on, boards have started ripping up.”@Ginger_Zee is live from Wilmington outside the eye-wall of Hurricane Florence. pic.twitter.com/ASmq16Fsvf
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 14, 2018
Electric transformers across the city blew out, plunging residents into darkness. More than 450,000 residents across the Carolinas have lost power, according to reports.
Residents as far north as Virginia Beach, Virginia experienced elevated winds from Florence.
This wind is no joke here in Virginia Beach this morning! It’s hard to stand out here with some of these gusts. Our photographer, @Eyefornews6 and I are taking shelter here in between live shots. @CBS6 #FlorenceHurricane2018 pic.twitter.com/wbtrSE3qtD
— Shannon Lilly CBS 6 (@ShannonLillyTV) September 14, 2018
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