Wind and rain are whipping North Carolina's coast, after the storm made landfall
Authorities have confirmed at least three deaths linked to the storm
Evacuation warnings are in place for up to 1.7 million people across South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia
Eight months' worth of rain is expected to fall in three days
Serious flooding is still expected even though it has been downgraded to a tropical storm with 70mph (110km/h) winds
If you're interested in the topics of hurricanes and climate change, check out this Reality Check piece on whether changes to the climate are making extreme weather events more severe.
Hurricane Florence is nearing landfall, the National Weather Service in Raleigh, North Carolina reports.
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Many areas of the state are facing flash flood warnings.
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The eastern seaboard of the United States is not the only part of the world currently facing the prospect of an extreme storm.
Millions of people in the Philippines are currently in the path of Typhoon Manghkut with the storm now packing winds of 255 km/h (160 mph).
The US National Hurricane Center is providing real-time updates on its website, external.
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The city of New Bern has told flood-hit residents to remain in their homes above ground level.
"Currently around 150 people are awaiting rescue in New Bern," the city council said on its Twitter account.
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A local resident has posted dramatic footage of the high water levels in Belhaven near New Bern.
Video posted to Twitter and shared by the local branch of the National Weather Service shows a torrent sweeping through the town.
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Much of North Carolina can expect flooding in the coming days, the US National Weather Service has warned.
"All sites including Fayetteville can expect at least moderate flooding, with serious impacts possible over the next few days," it warned.
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Amid concerns about the water supply in the face of Hurricane Florence, one of the North Carolina cities expecting to be badly affected by the storm has reassured residents that its water is "safe to drink".
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Weather presenters at an ABC partner station in North Carolina were forced off-air as a result of the storm.
The Weather Channel reported that the WCTI staff were forced to abandon their broadcast halfway through the show.
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Local news channel WRAL were also prevented from live coverage after an internet outage affected their broadcasts.
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The roof in Topsail Beach, North Carolina collapsed as a result of winds from Hurricane Florence.
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BBC reporter Paul Blake says there is now "little change in strength expected as the storm moves inland".
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Image source, ReutersWhat makes Florence so different from other storms this year? From Beryl, Chris, and Debby?
We've pulled together some of the key elements that explain why officials are so worried, and what damage Florence could cause.
The National Hurricane Centre has said maximum sustained wind speeds have now lowered to 90mph (150 km/h) - making Hurricane Florence a category one storm.
But the category number only accounts for wind speeds - and officials still warn of life-threatening surges and hurricane-force winds along the coast.
Image source, Getty ImagesWind gusts from Florence have so far resulted in more than 150,000 properties losing power.
US Representative George Holding told FOX that this storm could leave people in North Carolina without power until October.
Image source, AFPA satellite image shows all the natural phenomena hitting the US right now - smoke from fires out west and the swirl of Hurricane Florence approaching the Carolinas.
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Waffle House has officially started an Emergency Menu due to Hurricane Florence.
The Waffle House Index, named after this southern staple, is one of the metrics by which US emergency officials can determine how severe a natural disaster is. Is the Waffle House open? Is it serving an emergency menu?
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From flooded streets to heavy winds, BBC correspondents show us what it looks like on the ground as Hurricane Florence begins to make its mark on the coasts of North and South Carolina.
Hurricane Florence: What it’s like as the storm sets in
The US National Hurricane released an update to confirm that Florence remains a Category Two Hurricane.
The service says that maximum sustained wind speeds remain at about 100 mph (155 km/h) with higher gusts recorded in places.
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The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for different regions of the North Carolina coast. Marble-sized hail is also possible.
Residents should move to basements or interior rooms to stay safe.
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