Hurricane Earl intensified overnight and is once again a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 145MPH. Hurricane strength winds extend 90 miles outward from its center. Minimum central pressure is 932MB.

NOAA says the storm is expected to begin weakening later today but will still be a major hurricane as it skirts North Carolina's Outer Banks late tonight and early tomorrow morning. It is expected to take a north/northeast turn Friday. Depending on it's track it could stay offshore causing less severe damage or it could make landfall anywhere along the mid-Atlantic coast.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for North Carolina. Watches are in effect for Virginia northward to Massachusetts.

According to news reports, evacuations continue along the Outer Banks and governors in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland have declared a state of emergency.

AFTERNOON UPDATE: Hurricane Earl has weakened and is now a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour. Hurricane strength winds extend outward 70 miles from the center. Central minimum pressure is 947MB.

NOAA: "Additional weakening is expected tonight and Friday, but Earl is expected to remain a large and strong hurricane as it passes near the outer banks. Tropical-storm-force winds are expected to reach the North Carolina coast within the warning area soon. Even if the center of Earl remains offshore, hurricane force winds are expected to occur in the Outer Banks by tonight."