Earl weakens to a category three hurricane, new U.S. watches issued
September 1st, 2010 - 6:33 pm ICT by BNO NewsMIAMI (BNO NEWS) — Additional watches were issued for parts of the U.S. East Coast on early Wednesday morning as powerful hurricane Earl continued to close in on the Untied States, but slightly weakened, forecasters said.
Forecasters at the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center have been following the system since early last week when it emerged off the African coast since. Since then, Earl quickly strengthened into a powerful hurricane and battered the Caribbean.
As of 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT), Earl is located about 175 miles (280 kilometers) north of the Grand Turk Island, which is part of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Meanwhile, the center of the storm is located about 815 miles (1,315 kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina.
Forecaster Beven at the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Earl has maximum sustained winds near 125 miles (205 kilometers) per hour, with higher gusts, making it an extremely dangerous category three hurricane. It earlier was a category four hurricane, with maximum sustained winds near 135 miles (215 kilometers) per hour. “Some fluctuations in strength are possible during the next 48 hours,” Beven said.
The NHC said Earl is moving northwest near 16 miles (26 kilometers) per hour, a general motion which is expected to continue on Wednesday with a gradual turn to the north-northwest thereafter. “The core of the hurricane will be passing well east and northeast of the Bahamas today and tonight, and could approach the North Carolina coast by Friday morning,” Beven added.
Beven said hurricane force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 kilometers) from the center of Earl, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles (325 kilometers).
And as Earl continues to close in on the U.S. East Coast, additional weather watches were issued on early Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, forecasters already issued a hurricane watch for the U.S. East Coast from north of Surf City in North Carolina to the North Carolina-Virginia state border. This includes the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. Additionally, a tropical storm watch was issued from Cape Fear in North Carolina northeastward to Surf City.
On Wednesday, forecasters also issued a hurricane watch for the coast of Virginia from the North Carolina-Virginia border to Parramore island. Additionally, the government of the Bahamas issued a tropical storm warning for San Salvador Island in the central Bahamas.
A tropical storm warning that was in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and a tropical storm watch that was in effect for the southeastern Bahamas, was discontinued on early Wednesday.
“Hurricane warnings will likely be required for portions of the North Carolina coast later this morning,” Beven said, although it remains uncertain how badly the U.S. East Coast will be hit.
A hurricane watch means that the hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall, and floods are possible within the watch area within 48 hours. Residents are advised to take precautionary steps immediately, and prepare for any evacuation if necessary.
On Wednesday, tropical storm winds are expected to spread over San Salvador Island though most of Earl is expected to pass the island.
- Earl becomes a category four hurricane, threatens the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast - Sep 02, 2010
- Earl becomes a category four hurricane; Fiona forms in Atlantic - Aug 31, 2010
- Hurricane Earl may strike U.S. east coast - Sep 01, 2010
- Hurricane Earl becomes major category three storm as it nears the Virgin Islands - Aug 30, 2010
- Hurricane Irene weakens slightly as it marches toward North Carolina - Aug 26, 2011
- More than 800,000 without power as Hurricane Irene slams Puerto Rico - Aug 22, 2011
- Hurricane Earl moving across the northern Leeward Islands - Aug 30, 2010
- Subtropical Storm Otto forms in the Atlantic, no threat to land - Oct 07, 2010
- National Hurricane Center Expands Hurricane Watch Region As Hurricane Earl Gets Ready To Lash - Sep 01, 2010
- Tropical storm Bret forms near the Bahamas, watch in effect - Jul 18, 2011
- Dry air could prevent Tropical Storm Katia from strengthening - Aug 31, 2011
- Public Advisory Issued as Hurricane Earl Strengthens to Category 3 - Aug 30, 2010
- Tropical depression forms in the western Caribbean Sea, heads for Honduras - Aug 19, 2011
- Hurricane Katia strengthens into a major category four hurricane - Sep 06, 2011
- Hurricane warning issued for Texas, Mexico as tropical storm Alex nears - Jun 29, 2010
Tags: beven, bno, cape hatteras, category three hurricane, center of the storm, dangerous category, grand turk island, hurricane earl, hurricane force winds, hurricane watch, kilometers per hour, maximum sustained winds, national hurricane center, nhc, north northwest, storm force winds, tropical storm force, tropical storm force winds, turks and caicos islands, weather watches