Hurricane Earl - August 31, 2010 (Update)

As of 5am EDT Tuesday Hurricane Earl was located about 150 miles to the north-northwest of San Juan Puerto Rico with top winds near 135 mph. Earl is still a category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Some additional strengthening is possible over the next 24 hours. Earl is moving toward the west-northwest at 13 mph, but should turn to the northwest by this evening. A northwestward motion should continue during the day Wednesday. Hurricane Earl is moving away from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Conditions should gradually improve with diminishing wind and flooding today. Tropical storm warnings are still in effect there, but could be discontinued later today. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Turks and Caicos. Conditions there should gradually worsen during the day today with increasing wind and rain. The worst conditions are expected on those islands this evening and overnight with gradually improving conditions Wednesday. The southeastern Bahamas are under a tropical storm watch. Earl should pass well east of the Bahamas tonight through Wednesday night. Some squally showers and stronger winds are possible later today through early Thursday morning as Earl passes by. Earl turns northward later Wednesday and could move toward the Carolina coastline Thursday. Tropical storm watches could be issued as early as this afternoon or evening. Hurricane Earl could threaten the Northeast and New England coasts Friday and Friday night. (SOURCE: The Weather Channel)