As an intensifying Hurricane Earl barrels north through the Caribbean, forecasters say the Category 4 storm could threaten Labor Day beach getaways anywhere from the Outer Banks to Cape Cod.
The hurricane brought strong winds and rain to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Monday, where flights were canceled and cruise ships were diverted. In the British Virgin Islands, where the airport and seaports remained closed Tuesday, the isolated, nearly undeveloped island of Anegada took the brunt of the damage.
Earlier, heavy rains caused flooding in low-lying areas of Antigua, and winds ripped out trees and blew down power lines on the nearby island of St. Martin.
After brushing the Turks and Caicos, Earl is expected turn northward Wednesday and could move toward the Carolina coastline Thursday, forecasters say. Tropical storm watches might be issued as early as this afternoon or evening, and the storm could impact the Northeast and New England coasts Friday and Friday night.
In North Carolina’s fragile chain of barrier islands known as the Outer Banks, most preparations are still preliminary. “Nothing we’ve seen yet is showing it will make landfall, so we’re preparing for rain and heavy surf right now,” Duck town manager Chris Layton told WRAL.com.
The U.S. Coast Guard, which is setting up a 24-hour command center to monitor the storm, said one of their top priorities will be trying to get swimmers out of the water.
“Especially during Labor Day, the last blast of summer, we’re going to have a lot of visitors coming to the Crystal Coast and the Outer Banks,” U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Anthony Popiel said. “We really need the visitors to stay on the beach, stay out of the water and stay safe.”
An earlier hurricane, Danielle, left its calling cards in the form of dangerous rip currents and swells. On Monday, reports the Associated Press, swimmers on the guarded beach of the family resort of Ocean City, N.J., were being told not to go into the water beyond waist-deep as violent waves pounded the beach. And that was an improvement over the weekend’s conditions, when New Jersey lifeguards pulled out scores of struggling swimmers and it was so rough that even surf schools scrapped their lessons.
“One way or the other, the weather forecast will have a direct impact on the travel forecast,” said AAA’s John Townsend. “The impact of the hurricane on travel this weekend will depend on what the storm does in the next 48 hours. However, with more people traveling this year than last and even more of those planning to drive, what we do know is that roadways will be busy.”
