Published On:Thursday, September 02, 2010

By ALISON LOWE

Tribune Staff Reporter

alowe@tribunemedia.net

SAN Salvador was yesterday lashed with rain and whipped by strong winds as Hurricane Earl continued to pass parallel to the Bahamian islands.

However, tropical storm watches for southern and south eastern islands including Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins and Crooked Island were dropped, and administrators reported little impact from the storm.

San Salvador administrator Terece Bethel said: "Early this morning to now, the weather's pretty much been deteriorating. The winds are getting stronger and I heard there's been a heavy downpour in the United Estates area, our largest community. There's been a drastic difference as the day progresses."

At 5pm, Hurricane Earl had regained strength after weakening to a category three hurricane earlier in the day, becoming a "dangerous" category four storm again, as it heads for the east coast of the US.

The storm was located near latitude 26.3 north and longitude 73.3 west - around 235 miles east of Abaco. It was moving in a north easterly direction at 17mph. The US-based National Hurricane Centre projected that the core of the storm will approach North Carolina by today.

Meanwhile, large sea swells were projected to continue to affect The Bahamas causing dangerous surf and conditions and rip currents through today into tomorrow.

Residents in San Salvador had been advised yesterday to remain indoors and small boat operators were encouraged to remain in port.

The National Emergency Management Agency also issued a warning to those in the area of the Glass Window bridge in Eleuthera, advising people to "exercise extreme caution" when crossing the bridge, due to gusty winds associated with Hurricane Earl.

"Residents are asked to avoid that area, if possible," said a statement from NEMA.

Behind Hurricane Earl, tropical storm Fiona swirled in the Atlantic.

At 5pm it was located around 140 miles north of Anguilla, at latitude 20.2 north and longitude 62.9 west, with wind speeds of around 60 miles per hour.

"It's going to stay well to the east of the Bahamas. It will turn north and likely be much more of a threat for Bermuda," predicted senior Accuweather meteorologist Frank Strait.

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