Storm surge from Hurricane Florence has made a steady appearance throughout the day.  By 3 p.m. the Pamlico River at the U.S. Highway 17 business bridge measure 3.61 feet above normal. That number is expected to rise as Hurricane Florence continues to batter the state.

The Category 2 storm is expected to slow or stall over the next several days, dumping up to three feet of rain over the southern coastal counties. In Beaufort County, those numbers are much more reserved: an estimated 8 to 10 inches is expected on the south side of the river; 6 to 8 on the north side.

The continuous propulsion of water up the inland waterways is forecasted to produce a storm surge the National Weather Service is calling extreme. The potential storm surge for the Tar-Pamlico and Pungo rivers and their many tributaries is expected to be 9 to 13 feet above ground. NWS is warning that the area could see massive flooding for days or weeks to come.