Wilmington North Carolina News

Wind, storm surges and prolonged, heavy rain bring ‘life-threatening’ conditions to region Wilmington should be ready for a prolonged and devastating impact as Hurricane Florence roars over Southeastern North Carolina on Friday. “It’s probably going to take another 24 hours” for Florence to pass through the Wilmington region, Reid Hawkins, science officer with the National Weather Service office in Wilmington, said at 5 a.m. Friday. The eye of Florence, a Category 1 hurricane with 90…

9/14/18–Hurricane news brief Hurricane Florence is on top of us—and its effects are being felt all over the Wilmington area. High winds and heavy rains are wreaking havoc. Statewide—more than 288,000 people are without power. More than 40,000 of those outages are in New Hanover County. Those numbers will only grow as the day goes on. Efforts to restore power can’t begin until winds are below 35 miles per hours.       The Brunswick…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The City of Jacksonville says about 60 people have been evacuated from a hotel after hurricane force winds threatened the structural integrity of the building. The 62 people, including an infant, children and their pets, have been taken to the Jacksonville Center for Public Safety while a solution is sought for where they can stay. No one was hurt. – Advertisement – At about 12:45…

By JONATHAN DREW, Associated Press WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Florence already has inundated coastal streets with ocean water and left tens of thousands without power, and forecasters say that “catastrophic” freshwater flooding is expected over portions of the Carolinas as Hurricane Florence inches closer to the U.S. East Coast. – Advertisement – Screaming winds bent trees toward the ground and raindrops flew sideways as Florence’s leading edge whipped the Carolina coast Thursday to begin…

Hurricane hits coastal regions with storm surge and hurricane-force winds 2 a.m. update: Florence now drenching Wilmington Nearly horizontal sheets of rain were falling on the Port City as Hurricane Florence’s eye loomed just 35 miles from Wilmington, according to a 2 a.m. National Hurricane Center briefing. The Category 1 hurricane maintained 90 mph sustained winds as of early Friday, while the storm’s center continued its slow trek toward Wilmington at 6 mph. Florence was…

Hurricane hits coastal regions with storm surge and hurricane-force winds 11 p.m. update: Florence now ‘life-threatening’ to NC coast Hurricane Florence has now struck the state’s coast, bringing howling winds and storm surges, according to an 11 p.m. briefing by the National Hurricane Center. “Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds occurring along the North Carolina coast,” the briefing said. “Threat of freshwater flooding will increase over the next several days.” The storm’s eye was just…

Early Thursday police block the Trask Drawbridge (Andrew James/WWAY) NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) – Emergency officials on Wrightsville Beach were able to assess the beginning impacts of Hurricane Florence before day turned to night Thursday. The bulk of the three media briefings held by police chief Dan House surrounded how they were still anticipating the serious and catastrophic storm surge as well as hurricane force winds. Fortunately for House, he says this storm should…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The bridge to Pleasure Island is closed. The Town of Carolina Beach said Snow’s Cut Bridge closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic at 10:30 p.m. Thursday because of weather conditions. A curfew remains in effect for Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. – Advertisement – Ahead of the storm, officials said the bridge would close when sustained winds reached 45 mph. Click here to find…

Although Hurricane Florence has not yet made landfall, the storm is already pounding North Carolina’s coast with devastating winds and rain. The hurricane has slowed and should make landfall near Wilmington around 8 a.m., with most of the state feeling its effects throughout the weekend.

By StarNews Staff Thursday Sep 13, 2018 at 4:10 PM Sep 13, 2018 at 8:24 PM Find out which roads are closed in the Wilmington area The following roads are closed due to impacts from Hurricane Florence: New Hanover County Canal Drive (Carolina Beach)Wilderness Road, from Stillwell Road to Yulan Drive1500 block Middle Sound Loop Road: tree blocking roadAll entrance roads to the University of North Carolina Wilmington are closed: Randall Drive; Racine Drive; Crews Drive; Hurst Drive; Rose Avenue at Riegel Road; and North…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It may be getting bad out there, but one place is not backing down. Waffle House in downtown Wilmington is buzzing with customers trying to get one last meal in before the hurricane. – Advertisement – The restaurant was packed with people Thursday afternoon, and servers have been brought in to work from locations all over the southeast. One server tells us she is one…

Gov. Cooper: ‘We have days more to go;’ President Trump calls Wilmington mayor SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — The Wilmington region should expect immediate and long-lasting impacts as Hurricane Florence roars through. “The first bands are upon us,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday evening. “We have days more to go.” The storm’s outer bands began hitting the Wilmington region, particularly coastal areas, Thursday afternoon, with the eye’s landfall expected Friday morning. Cooper said 30,000 people statewide were…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Hotels that stayed open in our area are full of coastal residents escaping the hurricane. Some are even completely full. Residents share how fearful they are of what is yet to come with Florence. Many are worried that they may not have a home to go back to. – Advertisement – “You know, it was a Category 4 for awhile, then a 3, and we…

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior Defense Department officials say the expected high winds and slow movement of Hurricane Florence as it comes ashore will make rescue efforts challenging in the flooded areas. – Advertisement – Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, head of U.S. Northern Command, says search and rescue is a top priority, but weather may prevent rescuers from getting in during the…