All eyes on monster Category 4 Hurricane Earl

August 31, 2010 - Hurricane Earl passes to the north of Puerto Rico.  The major hurricane is a threat to the United States from the mid-Atlantic to New England.
August 31, 2010 - Hurricane Earl passes to the north of Puerto Rico. The major hurricane is a threat to the United States from the mid-Atlantic to New England.

Hurricane Earl continues its slow trek toward the west-northwest after pummeling parts of the Caribbean yesterday.  Today it looks like most areas will be spared the worst of the storm but a forecasted turn to the north may put parts of the East Coast at risk. 

The eye of Earl is currently 146 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico and the storm is packing 135 mph winds making it a Category 4 hurricane.  A bit more strengthening is expected over the next 24 hours as the storm continues to encounter warm waters and favorable conditions. 

Of particular concern is the path that Earl may take.  It is expected to gradually turn north and eventually to the northeast.  Within its forecast cone is a vast area stretching from South Carolina to Maine.  With many large population centers within the possibility for landfall, the potential for a major disaster are great.

We are monitoring the storm closely and posting updates to the Natural Disasters Examiner on Examiner.com.  Be sure to check there for the latest.

You can also view our live hurricane tracker here and our tropical weather update page here.

The video below is taken from NOAA satellite imagery and has been processed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS).  It shows the life of Hurricane Earl from sunrise to sunset yesterday.

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