Hurricane Dorian To Skirt 'Very, Very Close' To SC, NC Coasts

Hurricane Dorian is on a path that will bring it toward the coastal areas of the Carolinas.

Steven Rowley is a National Weather Service forecaster in Charleston. He said Wednesday morning that the storm is not expected to make landfall.

“But it’s going to be very, very close during the day on Thursday,” Rowley told WFAE. “It’s going to come very close to the South Carolina coast, particularly Charleston County. And then it’s going to continue to skirt very, very close to Cape Fear, Cape Lookout, Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Dorian will likely bring tropical storm force winds and up to 10 inches of rain in coastal areas. Rowley says storm surge and flooding are the biggest threats.

The Charlotte region will likely see little to no impact from Dorian. The White House said last night President Trump approved an emergency declaration for North Carolina.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued an evacuation order for all barrier islands starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

“Please listen to and follow all evacuation orders,” Cooper said in a news release accompanying his order. “We have seen the life and death effects of this storm in the Bahamas, and we urge everyone on the islands at the coast to leave.”

Evacuations along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts began Monday.

[Related: Be Prepared For Hurricane Dorian]

Cooper also said he activated 300 members of the North Carolina National Guard and that hundreds of Highway Patrol troopers were monitoring major roadways throughout the state.

Many evacuees are expected to come to the Charlotte area. Charlotte Motor Speedway says it’s opening its Rock City Campground and bathroom facilities to evacuees free of charge.