Hurricane Earl could swipe U.S. east
It looks like Hurricane Earl is set to become a major Category 3 hurricane that could swipe the U.S. East Coast in the next few days, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Earl had winds of about 110 mph (175 kph). This is very close to a major hurricane status, and was moving on a track that would take it northwest, to pass east of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina in the next few days.
“It’s forecast to become a Category 3 later today,” hurricane center forecaster Jessica Schauer told Reuters.
Schauer said authorities along the U.S. eastern seaboard should monitor Earl’s progress closely.They have to be prepared for the worst.
“Right now it’s forecast to pass off the coast of Cape Hatteras, probably within about 300 miles but that forecast track can change,” she said, acknowledging that a direct hit to the North Carolina coast could not be ruled out.
If it keeps it’s current track, Earl should not pose a threat to the Gulf of Mexico, where major U.S. oil and gas installations are located.
The hurricane buffeted the northernmost Leeward Islands with rain, winds and waves as it passed on Monday.
In Antigua, some flooding in low-lying areas appeared to be the biggest problem caused.
“It’s nasty but not huge … no worries with wind or waves unless you were really unprepared,” Eli Fuller, who runs an eco-tourism company, said from Jolly Harbour in Antigua.
People from St. Kitts also reported wind, rain and rough seas but there were no immediate reports of serious damage.Better keep an eye opened for the unexpected.
At 8 a.m EST (1200 GMT), Earl was located about 25 mile NEt of the island of St. Martin, a French overseas territory.
The Caribbean airline LIAT canceled 41 flights to destinations in the eastern Caribbean and shut down its reservation service , and that just over the weekend.
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