The biggest threat is along the barrier islands of North Carolina’s Outer Banks where evacuations have been ordered.

At 1:34 p.m. on Wednesday, the National Weather Service released a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 2:15 p.m. for Madison and Morgan counties.

Powerful waves of 15 to 20 feet are expected to slam beaches, especially in North Carolina, for 48 hours or more as the hurricane crawls northward offshore through at least Thursday. ...