Hurricane Earl reached what National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) called “near peak intensity” with sustained wind speeds approaching 145 miles per hour as of 5:00 a.m. Thursday morning. The powerful Category 4 hurricane is now expected to turn and begin moving north along the east coast of the United States. Hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings are in effect for the coastline extending from North Carolina all the way to Eastport, Maine as Hurricane Earl's predicted path calls for it to hug the coast as it moves north.
Hurricane Earl threatens Cape Cod and Massachussetts' islands
NOAA models predict that although Hurricane Earl will begin to weaken as early as Thursday afternoon, it will still carry sustained hurricane force winds through Friday night when it reaches New England. Current path projections put the eye of Hurricane Earl passing just to the east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts on Friday. Consequently NOAA has issued a hurricane watch from Sagamore Beach north to Plymouth, and from Woods Hole west to Westport, Massachusetts. Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are also included in the hurricane warning. A hurricane watch means that these areas may experience hurricane force winds as the storm passes. Current forecasts put Hurricane Earl at its closest approach to Cape Cod at about 2:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.
North Carolina and Virginia hurricane warnings
Hurricane warnings are in effect from Bogue Inlet, North Carolina Northeast to the Virginia border. This area is likely to experience hurricane force winds as category four Hurricane Earl passes by the North Carolina Coast on Thursday night. A hurricane watch extends north from there all the way to Cape Henlopen, Delaware. At present, says NOAA, hurricane force winds extend outward from Hurricane Earl’s eye as much as 90 miles. The rest of the east coast from Caswell Beach, North Carolina all the way north to Canada is covered by tropical storm warnings or watches.
Maine may see Earl's landfall
Hurricane Earl is not expected to make landfall until it weakens to tropical storm strength and reaches the border between Maine and Canada according to the most current predictions. Hurricane Earl is expected to make its closest pass to the North Carolina shoreline around 2:00 a.m. on Friday morning. By 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon, Earl, by then Tropical Storm Earl, will pass into Canada.
NOAA Chief Dr. Jane Lubchenko posts warning to east coast residents
Hurricane Earl is a powerful hurricane, currently classified as a category four hurricane which is capable of catastrophic damage. People within hurricane or tropical storm watch or warning areas are advised to stay tuned to local news and emergency authorities as the storm approaches their area. NOAA’s Dr. Jane Lubchenko made the following statement on her Facebook page: “I urge residents along the U.S. East Coast to remain vigilant to forecasts for Hurricane Earl. With such a strong storm projected to be so close to the coast, residents could experience a range of impacts, including dangerous rip currents. Weather.gov has the latest forecasts; for useful preparedness information, visit FEMA's ready.gov”
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