Hurricane Earl warnings expanded; Satellite animation shows storm approaching

Category 4 Hurricane Earl’s path continues to encroach on the East Coast and new expanded warnings were announced including the coast of Massachusetts. Satellite animation video shows the powerful storm ‘s track as it nears North Carolina.

With its latest update, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) placed Hurricane Earl 300 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The storm is generating 140 mph sustained winds and moving to the north-northwest at 18 mph.

Evacuations for parts of the Outer Banks in North Carolina have been ordered and states of emergency declared in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. President Barack Obama issued a disaster declaration for North Carolina and more may follow.

• Video: Scroll down to view video of satellite images as Hurricane Earl threatens the U.S.
• Also see: Packing 145 mph winds, Hurricane Earl sets its sights on the U.S. coast
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An expanded Hurricane Warning now covers the coast of Massachusetts from Westport eastward around Cape Cod to Hull including Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island. A Tropical Storm Warning has also been issued for an area from New Haven, Connecticut to west of Westport including Block Island.

While the forecast path for the storm continues to remain offshore, storm surge and heavy rain will be a very real danger from the Mid-Atlantic to New England. Hurricane force winds can be expected near Cape Hatteras tonight. Its track is expected to shift to the northeast where the storm will be within 100 miles of Boston by Friday night.

The video below shows various satellite animations of Hurricane Earl’s motion over the past six hours. The final segment includes a wide view of the Atlantic Basin that also shows Tropical Storm Fiona and Tropical Depression Gaston.

• Must see: Space station astronaut captures stunning images of growing Hurricane Earl