Flooding a possibility into early Saturday
The latest updates on Tropical Storm Hermine as the system moves its way through Georgia, South Carolina and into North Carolina.
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moderate to heavy rain associated with Tropical Storm Hermine fell on top of 3 inches that had already accumulated.
Another 1 to 3 inches of rain was expected overnight.
In the advisory, the weather service asked that drivers be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of floods and flash floods.
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At news conference Friday afternoon, McAuliffe warned that the storm could bring "life-threatening" storm surges to the eastern part of the state, including heavily populated areas such as Virginia Beach.
"We've got everything deployed in the right way, especially in eastern and southeastern North Carolina," he said.
McCrory and Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry says they haven't received any reports of major flooding as of mid-afternoon Friday.
"We'll be carefully monitoring all flood gauges and working with out county partners," Sprayberry said.
Officials said Friday they are moving more than 200 line workers to Morehead City and Wilmington.
Duke Energy said customers should double check their supplies of batteries, flash lights, bottled water and non-perishable foods in case of power outages.
They also offered the following tips:
- As severe weather moves through the area, be watchful for downed or sagging power lines. Consider all lines energized as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with lines. Please report downed power lines to Duke Energy.
- If a power line falls across a car that you're in, stay in the car. If you must get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook at about 11 a.m. that water was beginning to run across N.C. Highway 133 near Funston Road.
Officials said water was also covering part of N.C. Highway 179/904 in Ocean Isle.
The Fort Fisher State Historic Site near Wilmington and the Moores Creek National Battlefield closed Friday.
A fireworks show planned for the coastal community of Carolina Beach was postponed from Friday until Saturday.
Officials at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the Outer Banks warned that dangerous rip currents were affecting beaches all along the seashore.
At 11 a.m., the storm was about 400 miles west-southwest of Hatteras with sustained winds of 60 mph, down about 10 mph since the 8 a.m. update.
Hermine has also picked up speed. It's moving northeast at about 18 mph.
Also at 11 a.m., the National Weather Service in Raleigh has expanded a wind advisory in eastern North Carolina to include Edgecombe, Halifax and Wilson counties.
Areas in the wind advisory could see sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts between 35 and 45 mph, officials said. Power outages are possible.
Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry said the state's National Guard soldiers, State Highway Patrol troopers and Department of Transportation crews are ready to respond where needed.
“We want to remind everyone to not be complacent even after the storm passes because more deaths occur due to flooding than to any other severe weather hazard,” Perry said in a statement. “Please remember to 'Turn around, don’t drown.'”
Gov. Pat McCrory said the goal is to be "over prepared and under whelmed" by the tropical system making its way up the East Coast.
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"Rivers can rise very, very quickly, so keep clear of those," McCrory said. "Also, do not drive your cars through high water. Be smart, let's get through this storm, and we'll all get to enjoy Labor Day."
Areas in and around the Triangle could see 2 to 4 inches of rain, and those amounts will increase from west to east. Coastal communities could see 6 to 8 inches of rain before the storm moves out.
WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner says the afternoon and evening will be quite messy on area roads, and flooding is possible across the Triangle and to the south and east.
"If you can delay your weekend travel until Saturday, that's the best bet, because it's going to be a headache getting around this afternoon and evening," she said.
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