Good Tuesday morning! Weβre waking up to a much cooler start across the region after temperatures dropped well down into the 40s overnight in some spots. Itβs definitely going to feel a little more refreshing stepping out the door early today.
Florida residents picked the shelves clean of bottled water and lined up at gas stations Thursday as an increasingly menacing-looking Hurricane Dorian threatened to broadside the state over Labor Day weekend.
Dorian will likely become a major hurricane sometime this week.
Dorian became a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday as it struck the U.S. Virgin Islands, with forecasters saying it could grow to Category 3 status as it nears the U.S. mainland as early as the weekend.
Tropical Storm Dorian threatened Puerto Rico with a direct hit at near-hurricane force on Wednesday and forecasters said it could strengthen further as it approaches the U.S. mainland.
Thousands of people are without power after strong storms moved across the Iredell and Catawba County regions Wednesday evening.
The newly formed system is not a threat to land.
NOAA forecasters monitoring oceanic and atmospheric patterns say conditions are now more favorable for above-normal hurricane activity since El Nino has now ended.
The heating and air conditioning in Carrie Johnsonβs home β damaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 β still wasnβt fixed when Hurricane Florence flooded her house last September. Now, her home of over 50 years is gutted, the flooring and walls nothing more than bare wooden beams smelling faintly of river water.
