By Kevin Byrne, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
September 4,2016; 12:01AM,EDT
Hermine is leaving a trail of damage in its wake. It will crawl along the mid-Atlantic coast into and beyond Labor Day, threatening severe coastal flooding.
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North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has lifted the State of Emergency for 33 counties in eastern North Carolina effective midnight EDT, Sunday, September 4.
"I want to thank our emergency management team, National Guard and first responders who ensured our state was prepared to respond to Tropical Storm Hermine," said Governor McCrory. "We will be getting a firsthand perspective on the storm's impact to agriculture on Sunday. I urge beachgoers to continue to be cautious of strong rip currents throughout the holiday weekend."
As of 9 p.m. EDT, Hermine had sustained winds of 70 mph, making it almost as strong as a category 1 hurricane. This was an increase from earlier in the day when winds were sustained at 60 mph.
As Hermine gains strength and slowly tracks northward, some evacuations have been ordered along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
Volunteer evacuations were ordered for Fire Island, a barrier island off the southern shore of Long Island, and will be in effect from Sunday morning through Tuesday.
Voluntary evacuations have also been put in place for multiple communities along the New Jersey coast, including Stone Harbor.
Rough seas seen from Cape May, New Jersey. (Twitter Photo/@gin_murray)AccuWeather meteorologists are expecting Hermine to strengthen off the coast of New Jersey and reach hurricane strength by Saturday night.
As of 6 p.m. EDT there were over 28,000 electric customers without power in eastern Virginia and northeast North Carolina, according to Dominion Virginia Power. This number has dropped since earlier today when Hermine was still over land.
While the center of the storm is now over water, wind gusts near the mid-Atlantic coast are occasionally reaching 40 mph.
Most of the rain associated with Hermine is now over the ocean, but strong winds are still whipping the coast of the mid-Atlantic
As of 4 p.m. EDT, winds around Virginia Beach, Virginia, were sustained at over 25 mph and gusting to near 50 mph. These winds were causing sand to blow around at the beaches and were a major contributor to the tens of thousands of power outages across the region.
Beach erosion and coastal flooding is forecast to become more extensive as the weekend progresses as Hermine strengthens and stalls off the coast of the mid-Atlantic.
Significant beach erosion is already occurring at Long Beach Island, New Jersey. (Twitter Photo/@cdwats5)"Winds at Duck Pier, North Carolina, on North Carolina's Outer Banks were nearly 80 mph at 6:30 a.m. EDT," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski."
"Winds increased again later in the morning and gusted to 84 mph at 10:48 a.m. EDT," Pydynowski added.
These winds contributed to a fatal accident on Alligator River Bridge in North Carolina, according to WNCT.
Alligator River Bridge is located just southwest of Duck Pier on US 64.
The Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet in North Carolina was closed due to high winds, according to NCDOT.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has declared a state of emergency for Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties in advance of Hermine.
In his declaration, Christie stated, "The impending weather conditions constitute an imminent hazard, which threatens and presently endangers the health, safety, and resources of the residents of Ocean County, Atlantic County and Cape May County."
Christie confirmed that other preventative measures are being taken, such as listing potential shelters that have yet to open. Island Beach State Park will close on Saturday evening at 8 p.m. EDT, followed by Allaire State Park set to close on Sunday afternoon.
Waves crashing on the beaches of Cape May, New Jersey. (Twitter Photo/@khelmstetter)Beaches in southern New Jersey started to experience erosion and rough season on Saturday morning with conditions expected to deteriorate through the rest of the weekend.
As of 11:00 a.m. EDT, Hermine officially lost tropical characteristics. However, it will maintain tropical storm strength and act like a slow-moving, powerful nor'easter. Winds offshore could reach hurricane force for a time on Sunday night into Monday.
"Hermine has not weakened, and residents and visitors along the mid-Atlantic coast should still prepare and brace for severe coastal flooding, beach erosion, dangerously rough surf and strong winds that will unfold into Labor Day and beyond," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
Stone Harbor, New Jersey, emergency management has asked all non-residents to consider leaving the area before any coastal flooding occurs.
"Moderate to potentially major coastal flooding is expected at times of high tide on Sunday and again on Monday. Weather and flooding conditions may worsen on Sunday and Monday," they said on their website.
In addition, bathers are not permitted to enter ocean water and boaters have been asked to secure all property.
As of 9:15 a.m. EDT, more than 30,000 Dominion customers are without power in the Virginia Beach, Virginia, area, the utility reported.
Flooding has overwhelmed some streets in the Norfolk area.
The National Hurricane Center Director, Rick Knabb, warned that this will be a "prolonged event," during a Saturday morning briefing.
"Certainly a bad weekend to be at the beach and on boats," he said.
(Instagram photo/vicbosak)As of 4 a.m. EDT Saturday, Duke Energy was reporting around 45,000 customers without power across their service territory in North Carolina and South Carolina. This is down from the peak of around 50,000 customers.
Peak wind gusts measured on Friday night include 56 mph in Elizabeth City and Hatteras in North Carolina, and 48 mph in Norfolk, Virginia. According to a 911 call center via The National Weather Service, a house was destroyed, possibly by a tornado, around 1:02 a.m. EDT in Hatteras, North Carolina.
Observed rainfall amounts as of 1 a.m. EDT Saturday
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency for 12 counties in the state in preparation heavy rain and damaging winds associated with Hermine.
"I strongly encourage Marylanders to pay close attention to this storm system and, if appropriate, to start preparing for potential flooding or any other possible hazards," he said.
Earlier on Friday, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency for the state.
"We are strongly encouraging everyone in Virginia to prepare for the possibility of damaging winds, downed trees, power outages and flooding in much of the Commonwealth," McAuliffe said.
In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott continued to survey the damage in the hardest-hit areas.
"While the damage this storm brought to our beautiful state may be difficult to face now, we know that Florida is resilient. We have rebuilt before, and we will rebuild again," Scott said.
Scott also urged residents to be cautious when dealing with debris cleanup.
A look at power outages across the Southeast at 7 p.m. EDT
In a press conference on Friday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said city beaches will be closed on Sunday. He said residents can still go on the beach, but will not be allowed into the water as Hermine is expected to bring rough surf and dangerous rip currents.
"I want all New Yorkers to understand that it is not appropriate in this kind of situation - and this will start in earnest on Sunday - it is not appropriate to go into the water when you're dealing with these kinds of rip tides." he said. "Do not go in the water. It will be very dangerous. It will be unusually dangerous."
The mayor added that the city will likely be closing the beaches for swimming on Monday and Tuesday as well, but would make those announcements at a later time.
Significant damage was reported around Tallahassee and crews are continuing to assess the damage, city officials said.
This tree was blown onto a home in Tallahassee. (Photo/Twitter user @weathercolby)Savannah, Georgia, officials are asking residents to stay off roadways as crews clear debris from city streets.
Some fallen trees are blocking streets completely, they said.
(Facebook photo/City of Savannah Government)More than 70,000 Georgia Power customers are still without power as of 10 a.m. EDT.
Uprooted trees have caused some structural damage to homes in southern Georgia.
A tree crashed onto a house in Valdosta, Ga. (Instagram photo/sarahsikes)Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Hermine is likely responsible for one death in Martin County. A homeless man was hit by a falling tree, he said at a Friday morning press conference.
The governor said the most significant damage from the storm came in the form of uprooted trees and downed power lines. He emphasized that residents should take all necessary safety precautions despite clearer conditions, such as avoiding flooded roadways, fallen power lines and not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Scott said he hoped that crews would have much of the remnants of Hermine cleaned up by the end of the day.
"Now is the time for our state to come together. There is a lot of work left to do," he said.
Hermine continues to push through Georgia as a tropical storm. Roughly 45,000 Georgia Power customers were without power as of 7 a.m. EDT Friday.
(Twitter photo/@GeorgiaPower)Wind gusts up to 55 mph were reported near the Valdosta area in southern Georgia this morning.
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VIDEO: Severe damage left in Hurricane Hermine's wake
AccuWeather hurricane forecast center
Hermine may ruin East Coast Labor Day weekend plans
Millions of Floridians are waking up to streets littered with downed trees and power lines. More than 60,000 residents in the Tallahassee area are still without power as of 8:30 a.m. EDT.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott urged all residents to limit travel unless absolutely necessary.
In Taylor County, some residents were rescued overnight after ignoring mandatory evacuation orders. Storm surge up to 9 feet was reported in the area.
A
street is blocked from debris washed up from the tidal surge of
Hurricane Hermine Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Cedar Key, Fla. (AP
Photo/John Raoux)In advance of the storm, Florida Gov. Rick Scott issued a state of emergency for 51 counties. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal issued a state of emergency for 56 counties on Thursday.
Scott activated 100 members of the state's National Guard while another 6,000 soldiers and airmen were placed on alert.
Hermine ended Florida's 11-year hurricane drought after making landfall near St. Marks early Friday morning.
Debris
lies near a waterfront building damaged by Hurricane Hermine Friday,
Sept. 2, 2016, in Cedar Key, Fla. Hermine was downgraded to a tropical
storm after it made landfall. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Tim
Allen, left, and Joe Allen board up the front of an outdoor bar as they
prepare for Tropical Storm Hermine Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Cedar
Key, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Flooding was reported near Williams Pier, in Gulfport, Fla., on Thursday afternoon. (Instagram photo/tony5924)
Officials helped distribute sandbags throughout Leon County, Fla. (Photo/City of Tallahassee)
Water washed over a beach in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday. (Instagram photo/farrell4c)
In
this image made from a video, rough surf smashes the shore as Hurricane
Hermine nears the Florida coast, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Carabelle,
Fla. (AP Photo/Joshua Replogle)
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