Hurricane Earl closes in on US East Coast

Hurricane Earl quickly closed in on a large part of the US east coast yesterday, as tens of thousands of people fled North Carolina’s barrier islands to avoid dangerous winds and surf.
The strongest Atlantic storm of 2010 was on course to lash the coast of North Carolina and then move north, wreaking havoc on the end-of-summer Labor Day holiday weekend that usually draws millions to the beaches.
The hurricane was expected to remain offshore as it barrels north, skirting the Atlantic coastline.
But with the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicting hurricane strength winds as far out as 90 miles from the eye of the storm, coastal residents were still preparing for dangerous conditions, including “large and destructive waves.”
The NHC also warned of large ocean swells from the storm that could cause “dangerous surf conditions and rip currents” throughout the weekend.
President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration for North Carolina, ordering federal assistance to support response efforts.
A hurricane warning, meaning hurricane-force winds are expected, was in effect from the Bogue Inlet in North Carolina to the Virginia border.
A hurricane watch, which means dangerous conditions are possible, was in effect from the North Carolina-Virginia border to Delaware and further north to Massachusetts, including the tourist islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Tropical storm warnings or watches were in effect around the Chesapeake Bay, Long Island, New York and parts of the New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine and Nova Scotia coast.
National Park officials anticipated a heavy storm surge on Hatteras Island yesterday, when high tide occurs, possibly resulting in road closures.
Briefed by top disaster response aides, Obama said officials were preparing for the “worst case” scenario and would do all they could to protect vulnerable east coast communities.
Airlines said they may cancel flights if conditions worsen.