Forecast shifts, "Biblical rains" possible

The 5 a.m. Wednesday (9-12-18) forecast for Florence is shifted slightly southward from previous forecasts.
The National Weather Service Raleigh forecaster writes:
For the Coastal Plain and Sandhills a
prolonged period of heavy rainfall is likely. WPC has issued a
high risk for excessive rainfall along the coast of North
Carolina for Day 1 and Day 2. Due to Hurricane Florence stalled
near the coast of North Carolina have issued a Flash Flood Watch
for Sampson, Cumberland and Wayne starting Thursday morning and
continuing through Saturday evening. The heaviest period of
rain appears to be a Friday morning through Saturday, with the
potential of heavy rain continuing into Sunday. Rainfall totals
of 10 to 15" are likely (esp in southern Sampson county) with
totals approaching 20 inches in place. Flash flooding of creeks,
rivers, streams, nearby roadways, and washouts of area bridges are
likely. Make preparations now if you have not already!

Further inland towards central North Carolina the wind threat
is moderate along with the Flooding rain threat. Remaining
efforts to protect life and property should be completed!
Residents will need to remain vigilant weather wise through this
period as changes to the forecast are likely.

The other main adjustments to the short term was the adjustment
of the timing of PoPs. In general, the idea was to slow the
onset of precipitation down across the area and tighten the west
to east gradient. The wind field of the approach for Hurricane
Florence was also slowed down with Tropical Storm force winds
moving into the southeastern zones late Thursday morning.

Weather Ungderground's Bob Henson calls them "Biblical rains."
Because the steering currents will be so weak from Friday onward, forecast models will struggle to capture their details, which may lead to big track changes from run to run for the period after Friday. Despite this uncertainty, we're very confident that Florence's slow movement from Friday into the weekend will lead to titanic rainfall amounts in at least some places. The 5-day rainfall outlook from the NOAA/NWS Weather Prediction Center (see below) includes a patch of 20"+ totals near the southernmost coast of North Carolina, including the Wilmington area. A much larger area of 10" – 20" includes the eastern third of the state. Local amounts could reach 35", according to NHC; this would exceed the heaviest rains any tropical cyclone has produced in the contiguous U.S. outside of Texas, Mississippi, and Florida.

Meanwhile, in Hoke County, officials are set to meet again today at 11 a.m. We'll be in attendance, and of course will relay information.