FRANKLIN

As of 11 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service announced that Hurricane Florence just reached inland near Cape Fear in North Carolina. Life-threatening storm surges and hurricane-force wind gusts continue. Catastrophic freshwater flooding is expected over portions of North Carolina and South Carolina.

In Franklin and Southampton County, though, the forecast for today and tonight is a 90 percent chance of rain and breezy conditions. Winds are expected to be 23 to 25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph, dropping to 15 to 20 mph and gusts at 29 mph. Rainfall could be between a quarter and one-half inch. Highs in the low 80s, lows in mid-70s.

Saturday morning and into the afternoon there’s a 90 percent chance of rain, dropping to 70 percent, but showers are still likely. Winds will likely be around 15 mph, with gusts possibly up to 23 mph., dropping to 9 to 13 mph. Rainfall could be a half to three-quarters of an inch. Highs remain in the low 80s and lows in the low 70s.

The forecast for Sunday through Tuesday calls for a 50 percent chance of rain each day, with rainfall amounts ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch. Highs in the mid-80s and lows in the low 70s. Skies are expected to clear by Wednesday.