HMS Queen Elizabeth: Is Royal Navy carrier in path of Hurricane Florence?Â

HMS Queen Elizabeth has arrived in the US for the historic flight tests.Â
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Sep 2018, 13:15 BST
Updated 11th Sep 2018, 13:23 BST
This photo provided by NASA shows Hurricane Florence from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, as it threatens the U.S. East Coast. Picture: NASA via APThis photo provided by NASA shows Hurricane Florence from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, as it threatens the U.S. East Coast. Picture: NASA via AP
This photo provided by NASA shows Hurricane Florence from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, as it threatens the U.S. East Coast. Picture: NASA via AP

The Royal Navy's £3bn aircraft carrier arrived in Mayport, Florida, last week on a re-supply stop. 

She will sail north to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland for the historic flight tests later this month. 

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However Hurricane Florence is set to make landfall on the East Coast of America in the coming days. 

This photo provided by NASA shows Hurricane Florence from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, as it threatens the U.S. East Coast. Picture: NASA via APThis photo provided by NASA shows Hurricane Florence from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, as it threatens the U.S. East Coast. Picture: NASA via AP
This photo provided by NASA shows Hurricane Florence from the International Space Station on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, as it threatens the U.S. East Coast. Picture: NASA via AP

The storm is currently a category 4, with sustained wind speeds of around 140 miles an hour being recorded. 

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However it is feared that it could strengthen further before making landfall on Thursday and become a '˜life-threatening' category 5. 

According to the latest trackers, Hurricane Florence is set to hit either North or South Carolina '“ which are both north of Florida.

HMS Queen Elizabeth arriving in Florida. Picture: Royal NavyHMS Queen Elizabeth arriving in Florida. Picture: Royal Navy
HMS Queen Elizabeth arriving in Florida. Picture: Royal Navy
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The hurricane is not going to hit Mayport, so the HMS Queen Elizabeth and her crew will be safe. 

However Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland could be in the path of Hurricane Florence. 

The local government '“ St Mary's County '“ are distributing sandbags in the area today and tomorrow and the navy base issued a warning on Facebook. 

They wrote: '˜NDW has instructed all Navy installations in the region to set Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness IV. TCCOR IV means destructive winds of 50 knots or greater associated with a tropical system are possible in the NDW AOR within 72 hours.

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'˜Hurricane Florence might pose a significant danger to personnel, installations and other resources, and there is no substitute for advance planning and preparation.

'˜We encourage you to prepare for possible power outages, impassable roads and downed trees.' 

HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to sail to Maryland for the flight tests which will see the first landing of the F-35B, the UK's new stealth jet, onto the enormous flight deck of the 65,000-tonne leviathan.

However the re-supply stop in Florida has not been plain sailing '“ with British navy personnel urinating from a pub balcony, kicked out of bars '“ and one was detained by police using a Taser. 

Six were arrested for drunk and disorderly, with another arrest for trespass in a pub, sources told The News.

Three of the six were also held over resisting arrest.

 

 

 

Related topics:HMS Queen ElizabethMarylandFloridaRoyal NavyNorth