Earl to Bring Glancing Blow to Northeast Coast
This infrared satellite image of Hurricane Earl was taken earlier this morning.
People along the Northeast coast have only another day to prepare before Hurricane Earl brings a glancing blow to the region.
After lashing the Outer Banks of North Carolina tonight, Cape Cod and Nantucket will bear the brunt of Earl as it passes roughly 50 miles to the southeast Friday night.
Earl is currently a large, major hurricane with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 90 miles and tropical storm-force winds reaching 230 miles out from the center. Earl's future track and intensity will govern what impacts it has on the East Coast.
The AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center expects Earl to weaken slightly as it approaches New England Friday and passes to the southeast as a Category 2 hurricane.
Based on the current forecast track and strength, sustained tropical storm-force winds of at least 60 mph with hurricane-force gusts will impact Cape Cod and Nantucket.
If Earl tracks farther to the northwest or remains a stronger storm, sustained winds could even reach hurricane force for a time, downing trees and power lines, and causing minor damage to property.
While winds are not expected to be as strong northwest of Cape Cod and Nantucket, tropical storm conditions are still expected across southern and eastern New England. The storm's rain will extend well inland through this region. Several inches of rain could fall in Boston, Providence, R.I., and Montauk, N.Y., late Friday into Friday night with flooding resulting in some areas.
Earl could even bring a bit of rain to New York City during the day Friday.
While the worst of Earl's wind and rain is expected to bypass the coasts of New Jersey and Delaware, extremely rough surf, dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding will impact the region.
Waves will build along the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts into Friday, eventually reaching heights of 8 to 12 feet from Delaware to New Jersey. Farther north and east, wave heights will rise to 15 feet or higher from eastern Long Island to southeastern Massachusetts.
Significant beach erosion, which was a major problem along the mid-Atlantic coast this past winter, will result. The combination of rough surf and rip currents will make it extremely dangerous to be in or near the water, including around Cape May and Atlantic City, N.J.
Seas will gradually subside over the Labor Day weekend as Earl speeds away and slams into Nova Scotia. However, rip currents will still be a danger. People are urged to be extra cautious and adhere to water safety restrictions this holiday weekend.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 82° | Gila Bend, AZ |
| Low | -13° | Clayton Lake, ME |
| Precip | 1.24" | Spanish Fork, UT |
WeatherWhys®
The "Dead of Winter," the one-month period when normal temperatures reach their lowest levels, has come to an end for much of the United States. Some people may find it odd that the "Dead of Winter" does not encompass the darkest day of the year (the first day of winter). That is due to a seasonal lag in temperatures. More heat continues to be lost than is gained from the start of winter until this time of year.
This Day In Weather History
Gulf Coast 1 (899)
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North Dakota 1 (936)
this date the mercury plummeted to -60 deg. at Parshall, ND - the coldest temperature ever for the State of ND. Later the same year, the mercury soared to 121 deg. at Steele, ND - the hottest temperature ever for the state of ND.
Rough Weather
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