Will Hurricane Earl Strike the United States?

A worst-case scenario is how some weather forecasters and emergency preparedness directors have described the potential effect of Hurricane Earl, if the 135-mph storm strikes a major vacation destination just in time for Labor Day.

They aren't ruling out a landfall.

Earl's Location

As of Tuesday evening, Aug. 31, Earl was stationed near the Dominican Republic and categorized as a Category IV hurricane with sustained winds of 135 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm was expected to continue moving to the northwest, toward the United States mainland. The Center also issued hurricane watches for the Outer Banks of North Carolina and predicted Earl to turn north up the coast, remaining offshore before striking the Canadian Maritimes during the weekend.

However, later Tuesday evening, forecasters began to hint that the approaching cold front that was to block Earl from the mainland United States may not get here in time to keep the tropical monster from coming ashore.

Too Early to Tell

Forecasters say it's too early to tell, and a slight shift in Earl's track would allow it to strike North Carolina, the Middle Atlantic states or New England, Dennis Feltgen, a spokesperson for the National Hurricane Center, told Charlotte WSOCT television on Tuesday.

Cold Front to Decide Earl's Fate

Weather Channel Meteorologist Chris Dolce said the cold front will lower temperatures and ultimately determine how far west Earl travels and just how far north along the cost it goes.

Possible Paths for Earl

Even with possible landfall only 36 hours away, Dolce said it was still too early to predict Earl's exact path. A western path would cause major hurricane damage, life-threatening flooding, and torrential rains as the storm closely hugs the Middle Atlantic coast and strikes Rhode Island on Saturday. An eastern path would cause hazardous boating and swimming, dangerous rip currents and gusty winds.

Weather Advance forecaster Danté Brown-Royal says the front will not arrive soon enough to keep Earl from crashing into the southern Coast of North Carolina with 130-mph winds when it makes landfall. He expects Earl to continue to motor on up the I-95 highway, hitting Philadelphia with rain and 80 mph winds. Southern and northern New Jersey would be the next victim, with New York City following. Boston could see tropical storm-force winds when Earl finally reaches Massachusetts before heading on off to the Canadian Maritimes.

Evacuations Possible

National Hurricane Center forecasters have warned residents along the United States East Coast, especially in the Outer Banks, to prepare for possible evacuations, according to WSOCT television news in Charlotte, N.C., in its reports on Tuesday.

Don't Go Near the Water

Kristin Kline, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly, N.J., warned all swimmers to stay out of the coastal waters of nearby Atlantic City until Saturday at the earliest.

Rough Surf, Rip Currents

The surf along the entire East Coast has been churned up by Danielle, which passed offshore over the weekend, and now by Earl. On Sunday alone, Ocean City, Maryland, lifeguards performed more than 250 rescues, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Sources:

WSCOTV

The Weather Channel

The National Weather Service

Weather Advance

The Baltimore Sun