9/12/18
(Sautee)- Northeast Georgians should keep a close watch on the weather developments as we head into this weekend and Hurricane Florence hits the Carolina coast. Local News Radio Weather reporter Bill Kinsland says the National Weather Service has advised that weather hazards for Friday through Monday, if any, will greatly depend on the track of Hurricane Florence.
After landfall which is expected Friday there is great uncertainty as to where Florence will go. As it weakens, it could move toward Georgia or the southern Appalachians. At this time Bill says it is a watch and monitor, and he urges everyone to stay tuned to your local forecast.
White County Public Safety Director David Murphy advises in an email Wednesday morning that if the current track is correct, what’s left of Florence may move west after landfall near Wilmington, NC. That westward motion may bring the storm across South Carolina and into Northeast Georgia as a depression. Murphy says, if this verifies, gusty winds and rain will be the main threat. Hurricane conditions are not expected across NE Georgia regardless of the track.
More changes to the track after landfall are likely over the next 48 hours. Keep in mind landfall is not expected before Friday morning. Any impact on Georgia would most likely be late Saturday into Sunday.
Murphy said, the county’s Emergency Operation Center is monitoring and ready for activation if necessary.
The damage from the high winds was significant. Widespread power outages from downed power lines were not completely resolved until the following week. Several houses were seriously damaged by falling trees.