Hurricane Earl heads for US coast

Earl could trigger dangerous waves and surf in the United States, posing a threat to a large portion of the east coast for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. It has already hit several Caribbean islands with heavy winds and rain.
A hurricane watch, an alert which means there is a danger of hurricane-force, was issued for the North Carolina coast, the National Hurricane Centre said, calling Earl a “large and intense” storm.

Although Earl weakened to a category three storm early Wednesday, the hurricane watch was extended northward to the Virginia coast.

The White House said President Barack Obama would consult the head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency Craig Fugate on Wednesday morning to discuss possible evacuation plans.

“If Earl continues its present course, it will batter the Outer Banks of North Carolina Thursday and Cape Cod Friday night with strong winds, powerful waves and potential flooding problems,” said Accuweather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski told the AFP wire service.

Earl damaged homes, downed trees, blocked roads and snapped power lines in the Caribbean. On the French islands of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélémy thousands of people were left without power.