Warnings posted from Altamaha Sound, Ga., along the Atlantic Coast to Sandy Hook, N.J., included all of the Chesapeake Bay; Washington; and the Delaware Bay, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its late afternoon advisory.

A tropical storm watch was issued in areas north of Sandy Hook to the Merrimack River in Massachusetts.

A hurricane watch was in effect from north of Edisto Beach, S.C., to Currituck Beach Light, N.C. Hanna could become hurricane warnings later Friday, the center said.

At 5 p.m. EDT, Hanna's center was about 160 miles south-southeast of Charleston, S.C., and was moving north at about 20 mph, the NHC said.

Hanna is expected to turn northeast and pick up speed Saturday, and the center was forecast to cross the Southeastern coast of the United States by late Friday or early Saturday before moving along the Mid-Atlantic coast later Saturday.

Flooding from the coastal storm surge could be 3 feet to 5 feet above normal tide with rainfalls of between 1 inch to 10 inches in the watch areas, the hurricane center said.

Photo Courtesy NOAA

More Information from NOAA:

www.nhc.noaa.gov

© YellowBrix, Inc. Copyright 1997-2008