Hurricane Florence has reached the U.S. mainland and is bringing intense conditions throughout the Carolinas.

The Category 1 storm is currently gusting at wind speeds of about 90 mph with heavy rain and storm surges expected for the region. Public officials have been warning residents to evacuate the East Coast for the last few days, though plenty of people have chosen to bunker down in their homes, and it remains to be seen how many people may need to be rescued from the imminent floods and areas that lose power.

NEW: #Hurricane #Florence has made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina at 7:15 AM EDT (1115 UTC) with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph (150 km/h), and a minimum central pressure estimate of 958 mb (28.29"). https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/vzpe6MjTf9

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 14, 2018

North Carolina is currently facing the brunt of the storm, though that’s likely to change since weather forecasts predict Florence will head inland before moving north, towards Virginia and Maryland.

Watch above, via ABC, NBC, Washington Post.

[Image via screengrab]

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