Some Fourth of July celebrations are slightly put on hold this year as Hurricane Arthur threatens residents and vacationers with heavy downpour from the strengthening storm upgraded Thursday night to Category 2 and made landfall at Cape Lookout in North Carolina.
Before making landfall near the southern end of the Outer Banks, the hurricane packed strength at 100mph. Weather authorities warned of torrential rains, power outages, widespread flooding and dangerous surf and rip currents in the Outer Banks.
Latest reports say that upon hitting North Carolina, 20,000 people are left in the dark Friday morning as power has been cut off. Hurricane Arthur is expected to accelerate pass southeastern portions of New England and off Cape Cod by Friday evening according to meteorologists.
The National Weather Service revealed a storm surge might reach three to five feet and four to six inches of rain in the Outer Banks, or possibly up to eight inches in some other areas. For inland areas, one to three inches were predicted.
In the coast of North Carolina, vacationers were forced to leave their plans for Independence Day. Cities beyond the East Coast decided to reschedule fireworks displays.
Compulsory evacuation orders were put in place in the counties of Dare and Beaufort, following thousand of power outages brought about by strong winds Thursday evening. The connecting road and bridge on Hatteras Island, a low-lying, thin sand strip connected to mainland, were also shut down.
Ocracoke Island, meanwhile, conducted voluntary evacuation. Twenty-six counties in North Carolina were also under states of emergency.
“The hurricane is a serious one that presents substantial risks due to its anticipated high winds and potential for ocean overwash and soundside flooding,’’ warned Dare County Emergency Management Center. “Significant ocean overwash is expected and will pose a serious threat to oceanfront areas.’’
In spite of the warnings, some residents were not bothered by the threats of the Hurricane Arthur.
Renee Cahoon, who is former mayor of the Nags Head on Outer Banks and currently owns a grocery, said while she don’t take storms lightly, she never left her place during a storm since she lived there in 1971.
Governor Pat McCrory of North Carolina, however, reminded residents to stop playing stupid.
"Now we have concerns about people inland who may be impacted by potential flooding and rivers going over their banks," said McCrory. "This is a serious storm and with the darkness and high tide coming, as the storm moves to the north, the danger increases."
State emergency management director Michael Sprayberry said the current forecast is no indication of a possible major damage, but still they are “taking this storm very seriously.”
Meanwhile, New York will be off Arthur’s way but will still be pounded by heavy rains that could dampen some activities on Independence Day, said Mayor de Blasio.
Earlier, the weather center located the storm 55 miles away Cape Fear in North Carolina, moving to north-northeast at 15mph. Hurricane Arthur is expected to be out to the sea by midday Friday.
