Hurricane Earl passes North Carolina, New England remains on alert

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) — Hurricane Earl on Friday remained as a strong category two storm, forecasters said, after passing North Carolina where near-hurricane force winds were reported.

Earl is currently located about 130 miles (205 kilometers) east-northeast of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina.

As of 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), a hurricane warning is in effect from Cape Lookout, North Carolina northeastward to the North Carolina/Virginia border, and from Westport, Massachusetts eastward around Cape Cod to Hull, including Marthas Vineyard and Nantucked Island.

Forecasters at the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center said Earl has maximum sustained winds near 105 miles (165 kilometers) per hour, and higher gusts, making it an extremely dangerous category four storm.

The NHC said Earl is moving north-northeast near 30 miles (18 kilometers) per hour. An increase in forward speed and a turn toward the northeast are expected in the next 12 to 24 hours. Earl will move away from the North Carolina Outer Banks on Friday and will approach southeastern New England on Friday night.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 kilometers) from the center of Earl, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 kilometers).

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