Effects from Hurricane Hermine could be felt this weekend

“Hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast within the warning area beginning tonight”, the Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. advisory.

Hermine had winds of 60 miles per hour, and the hurricane center expected it to strengthen and be a hurricane near the time of landfall, which could be late tonight or early Friday. It was moving to the north-northeast at 14 miles per hour.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Florida’s Big Bend from the Suwannee River to Mexico Beach.

Hermine continues to approach the northern coast of Florida as a category 1 hurricane.

Georgia’s governor has declared a state of emergency for 56 counties as Tropical Storm Hermine heads toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Friday night lights will be Thursday night lights in many areas of SC this week.

The storm is expected to make landfall in Florida early Friday and by early Saturday the center of circulation should be near the Wilmington area.

A tropical storm watch has been posted for a number of counties in southeastern North Carolina and a flash flood watch is in effect for Friday.

While its not expected to stick around for long, Hermine is expected to pack a punch.

Even with a tropical storm passing just inland from the coast, a strong onshore wind could lead to a minor storm surge late Friday.

Rick Scott said at a news conference that authorities expect strong storm surge, high winds, downed trees and power outages when Hermine comes ashore either later Thursday or early Friday.

Areas from Destin to Indian Pass, as well as from Aripeka to Bonita Beach could experience a surge of 1-3 feet, and that could also be possible on the Atlantic Coast from the Florida-Georgia line to Cape Fear, the hurricane center said.

“This is a life-threatening situation”, Scott said.

One of them, Joe Allen, spray-painted on plywood in large black letters: “Bring it on, Hermine”.

The storm is set to hit Florida on late Thursday into Friday. Isolated areas could get up to 20 inches of rain, raising the risk of flooding.

City officials say that workers are clearing streets, drains and ditches in anticipation of heavy rains and high tides from Tropical Storm Hermine.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed a slight risk of severe weather across parts of north and central Florida today.