Hurricane Earl Upgraded to Cat. 4

A hurricane warning has been issued for North Carolina’s coast in anticipation of Hurricane Earl. A tropical storm watch has also been issued for areas on the North Carolina/Virginia border and extended up the coast to Massachusetts. Meanwhile, the tourists of North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island are being evacuated as Earl threatens to smash into the popular vacation spot. Earl moved through the Caribbean at 125 m.p.h. Tuesday, and was upgraded later in the day from a Category 3 to Cateogry 4 storm. Other areas up the Eastern Seaboard may have to evacuate. The hurricane is likely to run parallel to the East Coast, and may turn north and swipe Cape Cod and Maine by Saturday.