About a million people in the U.S. state of South Carolina have been ordered to evacuate ahead of a powerful hurricane.<br />For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram….<br />Aram… what's the latest?<br /><br /> Well Mark… Hurricane Florence has turned into a Category 4 storm and is expected to make landfall on Thursday. <br /> Weather experts say it has the potential to be the most powerful storm to take aim at the U.S. mainland this year. <br />South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has ordered the mandatory evacuation of the state's entire coastline, which spans eight counties.<br /> Evacuations are to start at noon on Tuesday, local time, and the directions of several lanes on four main roads are to be reversed to help with the mass exodus. <br />Neighboring North Carolina and Virginia have declared states of emergency, with evacuation orders already in place.<br />Florence is packing winds of 195 kilometers per hour and is expected to gain strength as it strikes the Carolinas by Thursday. <br /> Forecasters say the storm could reach the highest strength reading of Category 5 upon landfall with the risk of life-threatening impacts. <br />Along with blasting winds, Florence is expected to bring flooding to coastal and inland regions due to prolonged heavy rain.<br />President Trump has cancelled plans for a rally on Friday in Mississippi because of the hurricane. <br />
