National Hurricane Center Expands Hurricane Watch Region As Hurricane Earl Gets Ready To Lash

September 1st, 2010 - 8:08 pm ICT by GD  

By Madhuri Dey
hurricane earlSep 1, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The National Hurricane Center on Wednesday morning reported that the Hurricane Earl has downgraded to Category 3 storm with a maximum sustained winds near around 125 miles per hour. Although it has lost some of its speed, it continues to be a major threat to the North Carolina coast. The National Hurricane Center early on Wednesday morning at around 5 a.m. located Hurricane Earl about 815 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It maintained that the powerful hurricane is moving northwest at about a speed of 16 mph. The forecasters predicted more fluctuation in its path and intensity in the coming 48 hours. The hurricane is anticipated to strike the North Carolina coast early on Friday.

The National Hurricane Center that had already issued a hurricane watch for some areas of North Carolina coast, on Wednesday extended it from North Carolina’s Surf City to Virginia’s Parramore Island. The hurricane center said in its statement that a hurricane watch is issued 48 hours before the “anticipated first occurrence of tropical storm-force winds”, weather conditions that according to them makes outside ventures or plans dangerous or difficult. Although as of yet the center has issued a Hurricane watch, according to many meteorologists, chances are there that the center will upgrade it to a hurricane warning late on Wednesday.

Although Hurricane Earl lost some intensity on Wednesday morning, it made its presence felt quite strongly at coastal areas of North Carolina. Swimmers complained of dangerous rip currents as large swells washed the shores. Authorities also issued mandatory evacuations for Okracoke Island and Cape Lookout National Seashore.

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