ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tropical Storm Florence made landfall Friday morning near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, as a Category 1 hurricane, but it was downgraded to a tropical storm Friday afternoon by the National Hurricane Center.
As Florence pushes inland, it continues to weaken with decreasing wind speeds. However, its life-threatening storm surge and torrential rainfall will continue for many hours.
NOAA reported sustained winds of 50 mph and higher gusts.
Storm surge upwards of 7 feet are expected, the National Hurricane Center warns.
Florence remains a 50-mph storm, moving to the west at 2 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center's latest advisory.
Tropical Storm Florence Spaghetti Models
Each line represents a computer model's best "guess" of where the center of the storm will go. Together, they look like "spaghetti." Remember, impacts from a tropical system can and do occur miles away from the center.
Tropical Storm Florence Forecast Cone
This is the latest "cone of uncertainty," which shows an area where the center of the storm could go, when and how strong it might be at the given time.
Tropical Atlantic Animated Satellites
Tropical Storm Florence watches and warnings for the east coast
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