Hurrican Florence rapidly strengthened into a potentially catastrophic Category 4 hurricane on today as it closed in on North and South Carolina, carrying winds and water that could wreak havoc over a wide stretch of the eastern United States later this week. The first effects were already being seen on barrier islands earlier today as dangerous rip currents and seawater flowed over the state highway. People were told to prepare to evacuate communities up and down a stretch of coastline already identified as particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels due to climate change.
