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Hurricane Arthur skirts North Carolina Hurricane Arthur skirts North Carolina
(about 2 hours later)
Hurricane Arthur, packing winds of 100mph, is heading up the coast of US state North Carolina, forcing thousands to abandon their 4 July holiday plans. Hurricane Arthur, packing winds of 100mph, has made landfall in the US state of North Carolina, as thousands abandon their 4 July holiday plans.
The eye of the first hurricane of the season, now a Category 2 storm, was 45 miles (72km) east of Cape Fear as of 20:00 local time (00:00 Friday GMT), the US National Hurricane Center said. The first hurricane of the season, now a Category 2 storm, reached land between Cape Lookout and Beaufort at 23:15 local time (03:15 Friday GMT), the US National Hurricane Center said.
Its outer bands are currently lashing rain on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Thousands left the area, made up of barrier islands known as Outer Banks.
Thousands have vacated the string of narrow barrier islands. Ferries and highways were packed as people left.
Ferries and highways were packed as people left, while towns all along the state's coast have rescheduled Independence Day events and fireworks. Towns all along the state's coast have rescheduled Independence Day events and fireworks.
The centre of the storm moved slightly west on Thursday afternoon and was expected to pass over the North Carolina Outer Banks late Thursday, bringing flooding and storm surges further inland.
A mandatory evacuation of Hatteras Island, the easternmost strip of land in the Outer Banks, began early on Thursday, when Tropical Storm Arthur was upgraded to hurricane status.A mandatory evacuation of Hatteras Island, the easternmost strip of land in the Outer Banks, began early on Thursday, when Tropical Storm Arthur was upgraded to hurricane status.
It was made a Category 2 hurricane late the same day, which means winds reached 96mph.It was made a Category 2 hurricane late the same day, which means winds reached 96mph.
After passing North Carolina, Arthur was expected to weaken as it travels north along the East Coast.After passing North Carolina, Arthur was expected to weaken as it travels north along the East Coast.
North Carolina's governor has warned holidaymakers not to take risks along the coast on Friday.North Carolina's governor has warned holidaymakers not to take risks along the coast on Friday.
With a hurricane warning in place, Governor Pat McCrory said, "Don't put your stupid hat on."With a hurricane warning in place, Governor Pat McCrory said, "Don't put your stupid hat on."
A voluntary evacuation has been announced for Ocracoke Island, which is accessible only by ferry.A voluntary evacuation has been announced for Ocracoke Island, which is accessible only by ferry.
"Although the current forecast doesn't indicate this will be a major impact, we are taking it very seriously,'' Mr McCrory said. "I don't want you to put at risk not only yourself but also people who may try to help you.""Although the current forecast doesn't indicate this will be a major impact, we are taking it very seriously,'' Mr McCrory said. "I don't want you to put at risk not only yourself but also people who may try to help you."
National Hurricane Center forecaster Stacy Stewart said those who remained behind in the Outer Banks should prepare for the possibility of being stuck for several days without food or electricity.National Hurricane Center forecaster Stacy Stewart said those who remained behind in the Outer Banks should prepare for the possibility of being stuck for several days without food or electricity.
"We want the public to take this system very seriously, go ahead and start their preparations because time is beginning to run out," he said."We want the public to take this system very seriously, go ahead and start their preparations because time is beginning to run out," he said.
Forecasters said the storm would move offshore toward the north-east on Friday but would weaken and pose no serious risk to the northern part of the US east coast.Forecasters said the storm would move offshore toward the north-east on Friday but would weaken and pose no serious risk to the northern part of the US east coast.