Hurricane Florence, as seen from the International Space Station on Sept. 10, is now a Category 4 storm moving toward the U.S. East Coast. | Photo: NASA

While horse owners in the Mid-Atlantic states brace for Hurricane Florence’s arrival, just how—or if—the storm will affect the 2018 Fédération Equestre Internationale World Equestrian Games (WEG), getting underway in North Carolina today, remains uncertain.

Slated to take place Sept. 11-23 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, in Mill Springs, WEG has drawn some 800 horses and riders from the world over to compete for championships in eight disciplines.

The weather became a concern for WEG managers and competitors when the National Weather Service (NWS) declared Florence a Category 4 hurricane expected to bring high winds, heavy rains, and widespread flooding to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia sometime later this week