- The East Coast is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Earl.
- Earl has weakened to a Category 3 storm, but will still carry strong winds and heavy rain as it heads west.
Hurricane Earl (bottom left) hovers over Puerto Rico with Tropical Storm Fiona following close behind. Hurricane Danielle (top right) can be seen far in the northern Atlantic. Click to enlarge this image.
NASA
The East Coast braced Wednesday for a hit from Hurricane Earl, which weakened but still packed a punch as a storm watch already in effect in North Carolina was extended to Virginia.
As the storm barreled toward the eastern seaboard and threatened weekend holiday plans for beachgoers, North Carolina authorities ordered the mandatory evacuation of Ocracoke Island this morning.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Earl's top winds had decreased to 125 miles per hour, though it noted that some fluctuations in strength were possible over the next 48 hours.
It was spinning northwestward at 16 miles per hour as it barreled toward the eastern United States.
On Monday afternoon, Earl was classified as a Category 4 storm, and it pummeled the eastern Caribbean with heavy winds and rain that downed trees, damaged homes, blocked roads and snapped power lines.
Forecasters expected Earl to spin northeast of the Bahamas later Wednesday and brush past North Carolina's Outer Banks early Friday, dumping heavy rain, powerful winds and dangerous waves and surf.
The latest NHC forecast track also showed a greater likelihood of a landfall in New England later in the week.
Though the core of Earl was expected to pass well east and northeast of the Bahamas on Wednesday, the islands were due for large swells that "could cause dangerous surf conditions and rip currents," the Miami-based NHC warned.
A hurricane watch, which means there is potential for hurricane-force winds to hit the area, was in effect from Surf City, North Carolina north to Parramore Island, Virginia, including the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate warned coastal residents to prepare to evacuate, as ordered by state and local governments.
"We continue to monitor Hurricane Earl and remain in close contact with state, territorial and local officials to ensure they have the resources to respond if needed," Fugate said.
The White House said President Barack Obama would consult Fugate early Wednesday to discuss preparations for Earl's arrival.
The powerful storm brushed past Puerto Rico Tuesday and steamed northwest towards the Bahamas on a path that may hit the eastern seaboard.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for San Salvador Island in the Central Bahamas.
If the forecasts are accurate, Earl could wreck plans for vacationers for the upcoming Labor Day weekend on a large portion of the east coast.
"Impacts on the coast of the Carolinas will begin with waves" late Wednesday and then move further up the coast on Friday, said Bill Read, the director of the National Hurricane Center.
Earl comes on the heels of Hurricane Danielle, blamed for rough surf and riptides in New York and New Jersey last weekend.
The forecast track suggests Earl will gradually turn toward the north-northeast, unleashing strong winds on parts of North Carolina's tourist spot of the Outer Banks and whirling up the coastline toward New England and Canada.
"If Earl continues its present course, it will batter the Outer Banks of North Carolina Thursday and Cape Cod Friday night with strong winds, powerful waves and potential flooding problems," said Accuweather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Sosnowski said the storm track was still uncertain but left open the possibility of winds near hurricane force on the Outer Banks.
Tags: Hurricanes, Storms
comments ( )