At least 9 people in two U.S. states have died as a
result of Hurricane Matthew, which has also left 1.9 million households and
businesses without power across the Southeast region. The death toll increased
as the storm moved up the Atlantic Coast, bringing torrential rain, powerful
winds, a storm surge and the potential for catastrophic flooding.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said Saturday that the
state recorded three storm-related deaths -- one in Samson County due to
hydroplaning and two in Bladen County after a vehicle was submerged in flood
water.
"This is a very serious and deadly storm,"
McCrory said at a press conference Saturday afternoon. He urged the public to
stay off roads and remain indoors.
Six people also lost their lives in Florida due to the
storm, which at one point left 1 million households and businesses without
power in the Sunshine State.
The storm touched down in South Carolina, southeast of
McClellanville, at 11 a.m. ET as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained
winds of 75 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It is expected to weaken further to a post-tropical storm
by Saturday night, ABC News meteorologists said.
Despite the storm's weakening, the National Hurricane
Center warned Saturday morning of "strong winds and dangerous storm
surge" along South Carolina's coast as well as "heavy rains and gusty
winds spreading inland."
The National Weather Service also posted a new tornado
watch for parts of northeast South Carolina and eastern North Carolina until 4
p.m. ET Saturday.
"An isolated tornado or two will be possible today
along the coast of North Carolina and northern South Carolina," the
National Hurricane Center, a division of the National Weather Service, said in
its advisory at 8 a.m. ET. “Although weakening is forecast during the next 48
hours, Matthew is expected to remain a hurricane while the center is near the
coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina."
Courtesy: Yahoo
News.
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