WNC's biggest concern is "the potential for heavy rainfall, potentially over several days."

Hurricane Florence's current projections show the storm shifting south, west from the original path.

ASHEVILLE — Hurricane Florence continues to shift course ahead of its predicted landfall this week, potentially signaling greater impact on parts of Western North Carolina.

Current projections show the storm shifting south and west from its previously predicted path, Robbie Munroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Greer, South Carolina, said Wednesday. Munroe said Florence — now a Category 4 storm — also has slowed "quite a bit," meaning it might not reach land until Friday.

Western North Carolina's biggest concern, according to Munroe, is "the potential for heavy rainfall, potentially over several days." It may lead to instances of flash flooding, mudslides, debris flows and possibly some river flooding, he said.

He said the region could now see 5-7 inches of rain with as much as 10 inches in "up-slope areas" to the south and east of Asheville. Munroe said it's still too early" to get a feel for wind speeds by time it reaches the region, as both the speed of the system and how quickly it deteriorates after it hits land factors into that projection."

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Areas more prone to seeing about 10 inches of rain include Transylvania County as well as other counties along WNC's southern edge and to the east along the border of South Carolina.

Munroe urges area residents keep an eye on reliable weather sources and prepare ahead of the storm. That includes purchasing nonperishable foods, fresh water, flashlights and batteries for flashlights as well as keeping cellphones charged.

Gov. Roy Cooper ordered mandatory evacuations for vulnerable coastal areas of the state on Tuesday. He said the entire state should brace for Florence, particularly singling out the state's barrier islands along the entire coast ranging from the coastlines of Virginia to South Carolina.

"The waves and wind in this storm may be like nothing you have ever seen," Cooper said. "Even if you’ve ridden out storms before, this one is different. Don't bet your life on riding out this monster."

More than 1 million people face mandatory evacuation orders this week. Many fall within the American Southeast, including in Virginia and the coastal parts of the Carolinas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.

Shelters for displaced residents began opening Tuesday in areas like Wake County and are expected to open in New Hanover, Moore, Johnston and Sampson counties, among others.

A complete list of shelters is available online at ncdps.gov/florence.

A statewide information line can provide callers with shelter updates and other storm-related details at 2-1-1 or (888) 892-1162. Cooper's office also activated Tuesday the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund at rebuild.nc.gov.