Published On:Wednesday, September 01, 2010

At 11am edt the eye of Hurricane Earl was located near latitude 25.1 degrees north and longitude 72.1 degrees west or about 170 miles east-northeast of San Salvador.

Earl is moving toward the northwest near 17 miles per hour and this motion is expected to continue today with a gradual turn to the north on Thursday. On this forecast track the core of Earl will continue to move well east of the northeast Bahamas today and tonight.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 125 miles per hour with higher gusts. Earl is a category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some fluctuations in strength are expected during the next 24 to 36 hours. Earl is a large hurricane and hurricane force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles from the center.

Residents in San Salvador can expect heavy downpour, strong gusty winds up to tropical storm force, flooding in low-lying areas and dangerous battering waves up to 25 feet today…gradually subsiding by tonight. therefore, residents in San Salvador should remain indoors once conditions begin to deterioate and remain ready to take the quick action should the hurricane change course and increase its threat.

Residents in the San Salvador should continue to monitor the progress of Earl and remain in doors during the passage of the feeder bands which can produce heavy downpours and strong gusty winds.

Small craft operators in the central and northwest bahamas should remain in port and continue to monitor the progress of Earl.