Hurricane Florence takes aim at US East Coast

Florence is likely to surge back to hurricane strength and take aim for the US East Coast later yesterday as it churned across the mid-Atlantic with winds of 70 miles per hour towards the US East Coast, where it is expected to make landfall mid-week.

And another storm, Tropical Storm Isaac spinning farther out in the Atlantic could also become a hurricane by today as it gains strength, forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said in an advisory early yesterday.

With an eye on Florence, governors in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina have declared states of emergency, warning residents to prepare for a dangerous storm.

Forecasters at the NHC said Florence would continue to strengthen and "rapid intensification is likely to begin tonight.

The storm's center was 765 miles southeast of Bermuda at 5:00 am yesterday. It will move between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday, and approach the southeastern US coast on Thursday, the NHC said in an advisory.

Swells generated by Florence were affecting Bermuda and starting to reach parts of the US East Coast. They were likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, according to the NHC.

Authorities in Florida said they were closely monitoring the storm.

"We are now in the peak of hurricane season - disaster preparedness should be a major priority for your family," Florida Governor Rick Scott wrote on Twitter.

Florence's precise path remained uncertain yesterday, but the NHC said the "risk of direct impact" somewhere between Florida and North Carolina was increasing.