Hurricane Florence: International Space Station captures video of enormous storm as it rampages towards US

Mandatory evacuations ordered as millions of Americans brace for what could become one of the most catastrophic hurricanes to hit the Eastern Seaboard in decades

Footage from space has captured the path of Hurricane Florence as it rampages across the Atlantic Ocean towards the eastern seaboard of the US.

The International Space Station recorded the images from its vantage point in orbit 255 miles above as millions of people were told to prepare for what could be the most destructive storm to hit the region in decades.

Generating winds of up to 140mph as a Category 4 storm, Hurricane Florence is expected to strengthen and become Category 5 by Tuesday.

South Carolina's governor has ordered the state's entire coastline to be evacuated starting at noon on Tuesday, and predicted that a million people would flee their homes. Virginia's governor followed suit, and ordered a mandatory evacuation for some residents of low-lying coastal areas.

Meteorologists are warning it could cause torrential rains in the Appalachian Mountains and reach as far as West Virginia, triggering flash floods and mudslides.