ALEX MOVING OUT TO SEA AFTER BATTERING OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA

Aug. 3, 2004 — At 11 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Alex was located near latitude 36.5 north, longitude 72.8 west or about 175 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C. Alex is moving toward the northeast near 17 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Alex taken at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Aug. 3, 2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph with higher gusts. Only slight weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 973 mb, 28.73 inches.

Coastal storm surge flooding is subsiding. High surf and rip currents will affect much of the mid-Atlantic U.S. coastal areas for the next day or so. (Click NOAA image for larger view of Hurricane Alex tracking map.)

All warnings for coastal North Carolina, including Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, have been discontinued.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices and statements from local emergency management officials.

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