Labor Day Outlook: Earl to Proceed Cooler Temps
By Jason Berry, Lead Meteorologist September 2, 2010; 4:01 PM EDT	Share |

Updated: 5:36 PM EDT

For some 34.8 million people expected to travel this Labor Day holiday, Hurricane Earl looks to snarl plans along the East Coast.

Earl regained status as a category 4 storm, with a central pressure of 933 millibars late this afternoon. As of 5 PM EDT Thursday, the massive hurricane was centered near latitude 32.5 North... longitude 75.2 West, placing it near the Outer Banks as early as tonight. From there, the forecast track has Earl picking up speed, as it makes a north-northeast turn toward the New England Coast Friday night.

Hurricane warnings remain in effect from the North Carolina/ Virginia Border, northeastward to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Hurricane force winds of 75-100 mph extended outward some 90-miles from the storm's center.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Watches remained in effect Thursday from Cape Fear, North Carolina, northeastward to the Chesapeake Bay, including eastern portions of Long Island and New York. Places such as New Haven, Connecticut and Westport, Massachusetts were being told to brace for tropical storm conditions as early as Friday.

Hurricane Earl is forecast to lash at the Outer Banks with up to 20-foot swells and heavy rain between 2-4 inches over the next 24-hours, before passing within 30-miles of Nantucket Island Friday night.

Even with this track however, tropical storm force winds of at least 60-70 mph would impact areas within 230-miles from the center of Earl.

Earl, Fiona & Gaston: Talk tropics in our blog spot. 24-Hour Outlook: The latest forecasts and analysis. Extended 5-Day: How will weather affect your week? Storm Center: Keep yourself ahead of the storm!