Forecasters say Tropical Storm Florence is becoming a ‘better organized’ weather system and will likely strengthen into a hurricane late on Saturday.

The National Hurricane center said that Florence will start to rapidly intensify Sunday, and become a major hurricane by Tuesday.

Life-threatening surf and rip current conditions were likely to affect Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast over the weekend.

The storm was about 840 miles southeast of Bermuda as of and looked to be intensifying

The storm was about 840 miles southeast of Bermuda as of and looked to be intensifying

Experts say it could make landfall anywhere from New England to the Carolinas

Experts say it could make landfall anywhere from New England to the Carolinas

Experts say it could make landfall anywhere from New England to the Carolinas

The Atlantic storm season appears to be in full swing with more storms lining up to come 

The Atlantic storm season appears to be in full swing with more storms lining up to come 

The Atlantic storm season appears to be in full swing with more storms lining up to come 

Tropical storms Florence and Helene, a tropical depression and a fourth, lesser disturbance are marching west across the Atlantic Ocean

Tropical storms Florence and Helene, a tropical depression and a fourth, lesser disturbance are marching west across the Atlantic Ocean

Tropical storms Florence and Helene, a tropical depression and a fourth, lesser disturbance are marching west across the Atlantic Ocean

The storm’s center will approach the U.S. Southeast coast on Thursday after passing between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The U.S. Navy is making preparations this weekend for its ships in the Hampton Roads area to leave port as Florence approaches the East Coast.

The U.S. Fleet Forces Command said that the ships will get ready in anticipation of getting under way Monday to avoid storm damage.

Adm. Christopher Grady said the decision was based on Florence’s current track, which indicates the area could see strong sustained winds and storm surges. 

Florence will generate swells that will affect the East Coast this weekend

Florence will generate swells that will affect the East Coast this weekend

Florence will generate swells that will affect the East Coast this weekend

The storm is expected to pass between Bermuda and the Bahamas before reaching the U.S.

The storm is expected to pass between Bermuda and the Bahamas before reaching the U.S.

The storm is expected to pass between Bermuda and the Bahamas before reaching the U.S.

The wind speeds appear to increase as the storm strenghtens as it nears the U.S. East Coast

The wind speeds appear to increase as the storm strenghtens as it nears the U.S. East Coast

The wind speeds appear to increase as the storm strenghtens as it nears the U.S. East Coast

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency Friday evening. 

Cooper says it’s “too early” to know where the storm will go, but he says residents should use the weekend to prepare for the possibility of a natural disaster. 

Meanwhile, across the border in neighboring South Carolina, the governor declared a state of emergency Saturday to give his state time to prepare for the possible arrival of Florence.

Gov. Henry McMaster emphasized that there’s no way to know yet when and where the storm will hit land, or when evacuations might be called.

The area of the Atlantic Ocean where the storm is now located is experiencing 30ft high waves

The area of the Atlantic Ocean where the storm is now located is experiencing 30ft high waves

The area of the Atlantic Ocean where the storm is now located is experiencing 30ft high waves

Ahead of Florence, a separate small tropical system was raining on Bermuda. Forecasters do not expect it to develop into anything significant however

Ahead of Florence, a separate small tropical system was raining on Bermuda. Forecasters do not expect it to develop into anything significant however

Ahead of Florence, a separate small tropical system was raining on Bermuda. Forecasters do not expect it to develop into anything significant however

The lineup of storms is a reminder that the deep tropics are at the peak of hurricane season

The lineup of storms is a reminder that the deep tropics are at the peak of hurricane season

The lineup of storms is a reminder that the deep tropics are at the peak of hurricane season

On Florence's heels, however, are Tropical Depression Nine and Tropical Storm Helene

On Florence's heels, however, are Tropical Depression Nine and Tropical Storm Helene

On Florence’s heels, however, are Tropical Depression Nine and Tropical Storm Helene

McMaster spoke at the South Carolina Emergency Management Division headquarters in West Columbia, about 10 miles from where the South Carolina-Georgia football game was to start a few hours later.

He said he’s not telling people to leave, just to prepare.

The National Hurricane Center said early Saturday morning that the storm is located about 840 miles southeast of Bermuda and is moving westward at about 9 mph. 

The storm has maximum sustained winds of about 65 mph with higher gusts.

While the exact path is still uncertain, a strike on the U.S. East Coast is increasingly likely and could happen as soon as Thursday

While the exact path is still uncertain, a strike on the U.S. East Coast is increasingly likely and could happen as soon as Thursday

While the exact path is still uncertain, a strike on the U.S. East Coast is increasingly likely and could happen as soon as Thursday

There is still a lot of uncertainty over which direction Florence will head 

There is still a lot of uncertainty over which direction Florence will head 

There is still a lot of uncertainty over which direction Florence will head 

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