Hurricane Earl Sept.. 1 advisory 8 a.m.
A hurricane watch is in effect for north of Surf City, North Carolina to Parramore Island, Virginia, including the Pamlico and Albemrle Sounds.
At 8 a.m. AST, Earl is moving toward the northwest near 18 MPH. This general motion is expected to continue today with a gradual turn to the north-northwest thereafter. On the forecast track, 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.
Maximum sustained winds are near 125 MPH with higher gusts. Earl is a category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Some fluctuations in strength are possible during the next 48 hours.
Earl is a large hurricane. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center and tropical force winds extend outward up to 200 miles.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service