The National Weather Service (NWS) continues to keep a Tropical Storm Watch posted for coastal Lincoln County in regards to hurricane Earl, even though the storm forecast continues to improve.
Forecast models from the NWS and other sources indicate that the track for Earl is sliding to the northeast. As of Thursday morning, midcoast Maine no longer remains in the so-called “cone of uncertainty” in Earl’s projected path. Further south, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue said her state “dodged a bullet” when the storm changed course Thursday night.
Earl will still be a category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 86 miles per hour when it enters Maine waters, but the storm will be now be too far offshore to bring truly severe weather to Lincoln County, according to forecasters.
Presently the forecast calls for Earl to chug up the eastern seaboard and begin to affect Lincoln County Fri. night. In the early evening hours winds are forecast to increase to 15-20 miles per hour with gusts to 25 miles per hour. Overnight, the winds are forecast to crank up to 20-30 miles per hour with gusts up to 45 miles per hour. A relatively short but intense period of heavy precipitation is forecast to bring 1-2 inches of rainfall. There is a possibility of embedded thunderstorms to arrive with rainfall.
Earl is forecast to move out of the area by Saturday mid-morning. Saturday afternoon and the rest of Labor Day weekend are forecast to be clear and sunny with comfortable high temps in the upper 60′ and mid 70’s.
However, as with all forecasts, and especially with the storm some distance away, these conditions could change rapidly if the storm track alters, becoming worse if it moves west and better if it moves east. The NWS urges everyone in the affected area to monitor news media for additional updates. The Lincoln County News website will post additional information here as soon as it becomes available, and will be staffed on a continual basis until the storm passes.
According to the NWS, storm surge from Earl is not forecast to be hazardous at approximately 1 foot of surge. The high tide on Fri. evening is 9.5 feet and Sat. morning is only 8.3 feet, and if the storm passes through the area according to the predicted timing, the tide will be low during the surge.
High waves from Earl are expected in coastal areas, and the Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency (LCEMA) is warning any coastal visitors to stay well clear of breaking waves.
The NWS advises that there is a possibility of minor flooding inland.
As with any wind and rain event, there is the possibility of power outages, especially in coastal areas which should experience the highest wind gusts.
The Lincoln County News website will continue to follow the progress of this event, and post any additional information here as soon as it becomes available.
