(CNN) As Paul Flaherty flew over Hurricane Florence, he didn't like what he was seeing. It grew from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane in 72 hours. Flaherty, flight director for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Hunters, saw the eye wall forming. Hurricane hunters have monitored the storm from above over the last few days as it churns toward the southern East Coast of the United States. Hurricane Florence neared Category 5 strength on Monday, forcing evacuations in coastal areas in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Source: CNN September 11, 2018 03:56 UTC