Tropical Storm Michael Racing To The Northeast
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Tropical Storm Michael is racing across the Carolinas.
At 11 a.m., the center of the storm was 35 miles of Charlotte, North Carolina. It was moving to the northeast at 23 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles mainly to the south and east of the center.
Michael is forecast to continue moving to the northeast today. A turn toward the east-northeast at an even faster forward speed is expected on Friday and Saturday.
On the forecast track, the center of Michael will continue to move across central and eastern North Carolina today, move across southeastern Virginia this evening, and move into the western Atlantic Ocean tonight.
CLICK HERE TO TRACK TROPICAL STORM MICHAEL
Little change in strength is expected today, with the strongest winds primarily spreading northward along the coast of the Carolinas. Michael is forecast to intensify as it becomes a post-tropical low over the Atlantic late tonight.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Ocracoke Inlet North Carolina to Duck North Carolina
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Savannah River to Duck North Carolina
* Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
GALLERY: Damaged Caused By Hurricane Michael In Florida Panhandle
STORM SURGE
Water levels are receding along the Gulf Coast of Florida. Along the southeast coast of the United States, the combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will continue to cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water has the potential to reach the following heights above ground if peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Sound side of the North Carolina Outer Banks from Ocracoke Inlet to Duck...2-4 ft
WIND
Tropical storm conditions are occurring over portions of central and eastern South Carolina and will spread northward over central and eastern North Carolina this afternoon and evening.
RAINFALL
Michael is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 7 inches from northern South Carolina, west-central to northwestern North Carolina, and into south-central to southeast Virginia, including the southern Delmarva Peninsula. Isolated maximum totals of 9 inches are possible in North Carolina and Virginia. This rainfall could lead to life-threatening flash floods.
Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches expected across the Central Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England.
TORNADOES
Tornadoes are possible through this evening across central and eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia.
