Earl's Strength to Fluctuate, Category 5 a Long Shot
This video has the latest on Hurricane Earl from our experts.
Hurricane Earl's strength will fluctuate through eventual landfall over Atlantic Canada this weekend.
While the storm may have missed its chance at becoming the infamous perfect Category 5 Tuesday, it remains a very dangerous storm.
"Satellite imagery as of Tuesday morning indicated that Earl was undergoing eye wall replacement," according to AccuWeather.com Tropical Weather Expert Dan Kottlowski.
"Central pressure on the storm was also up a bit, a sign of slight weakening," Kottlowski added.
Once it completes the eye wall replacement, Earl is likely to regain strength.
This common phenomenon is usually temporary and basically causes the storm to reorganize. Hurricane Katrina went through eye wall replacement over the Gulf of Mexico.
Dry air in the wake of Danielle was also being funneled southward into the western side of Earl.
Because of this, and the countering very warm Gulf Stream waters, AccuWeather.com meteorologists expect Earl's intensity to vary slightly.
Kottlowski cautioned, "For a hurricane to become a Category 5, perfect atmospheric conditions have to be present."
It is hard to say if yet "another" eye wall replacement will take place before nearing the Outer Banks, but it is certainly possible.
There is no way to accurately predict eye wall replacement.
However, people should not dwell on the exact strength of the hurricane. Earl's track is the more critical issue.
The most dangerous part of a hurricane is the eye wall. If that passes over a land area, there is the risk of extensive damage and greatest risk of loss life.
One thing is for sure, Earl's forward speed will increase upon passing North Carolina, as steering winds in northern latitudes begin to take over, also distorting the shape of the storm.
Eventually, these shearing winds and colder waters will cause Earl to weaken terminally, but not before making a very close brush with Cape Cod and the islands, as well as a possible direct hit on Nova Scotia and Newfoundland with potentially damaging and life-threatening consequences.
People along the central and northern Atlantic Seaboard, especially the Outer Banks, eastern Long Island, Cape Cod, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland should be taking mighty Hurricane Earl very seriously.
Related to the Story:
Earl to Rattle Atlantic Seaboard
Earl on a Path to Batter Outer Banks, Cape Cod
Earl to Threaten Nova Scotia, Newfoundland
How Northeast Should Prepare for Hurricane Earl
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