Florence to become hurricane late Saturday

Elsewhere: Helene remains a tropical storm, but is expected to become a hurricane later Sunday. The storm has maximum sustained winds of about 65 miles per hour (100 km/h) with higher gusts.

Florence is expected to become a major hurricane by Monday, the National Hurricane Center said, adding that “a significant phase of intensification” is expected late Saturday. It was given hurricane status on Tuesday, became a major hurricane on Wednesday and then was almost torn apart in an unfavorable environment Thursday and was once again downgraded to a tropical storm by early Friday.

Meanwhile residents along the United States east coast are being warned to prepare for the possible arrival of Florence next week, with modelling showing the weakened storm could regain it’s strength to a hurricane as it approaches Bermuda.

McMaster said it was “way too early” for any decisions on evacuations but said now is the time for S.C. residents – across all the state – to prepare.

Eloquent as ever, governor. But as we often like to say, it only takes one.

“It’s a attractive day outside, people playing football, the last thing on people’s mind is a hurricane”, McMaster said, according to The State newspaper. Florence will once again strengthen into a major hurricane.

Most model simulations now show Florence making landfall along the U.S. East Coast as a major hurricane between Wednesday and Friday of the coming week.

The storm is expected to pass between Bermuda and the Bahamas before reaching the U.S. After passing the Cabo Verde Islands the system was not expected to pose a direct threat to land for at least several days.

Florence’s northerly position is the US East Coast’s first piece of bad news.

After almost no action for from June through August, tropical activity has sprung to life in a hurry in the Atlantic.

Behind Florence is two other storms that the National Hurricane Center is monitoring.

So, there continues to remain a bit of uncertainty about exact track, which I know is the last thing most of you want to hear since many of you are trying to make preparations.

Days later, Maria decimated Puerto Rico – killing 64 people on the island.

The storm could explode in power on Sunday. That’s more than $100 billion above the previous record (after adjusting for inflation).

Tropical Depression Nine formed 1755 miles east of the Windward Islands Friday. Hugo did $10 billion in damage and killed 35 South Carolinians.