Hurricane Charley to move into Atlantic: Inland tropical wind watch issued for Wayne
By Karinne Young
Published in News on August 13, 2004 2:39 PM
Forecasters are saying that Hurricane Charley, now a Category 4 storm with winds of 145 mph, will take a path thatÕs further east, bringing it across the Florida Peninsula and into the Atlantic. The storm is then expected to continue moving north, along the coast and possibly coming ashore between Georgetown and Myrtle Beach late Saturday afternoon. The stormÕs intensity is also expected to increase.
The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued an inland tropical wind watch for Wayne and other counties in Eastern North Carolina, meaning sustained winds of 45 mph with gusts in excess of 58 mph can be expected. Rainfall totals are still forecast to be around 6 inches, said Ron Humble, meteorologist with the Raleigh weather office.
Before then, the threat exists for severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes.
Conditions here will begin to deteriorate Saturday mid-morning and strong winds and heavy rains will continue through midnight Saturday.
Residents are urged to monitor the stormÕs progress and be alert to any watches or warnings that may be issued by the weather service or Emergency Management officials.