The snail-paced Ophelia, downgraded from hurricane to tropical storm, moved out to sea early today after a three-day drenching that was far less severe than many had anticipated.

Hurricane Ophelia weakened slightly and slowed to a crawl today along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, giving the fragile barrier islands a prolonged soaking even as it appeared the storm had not caused severe inland flooding.

Cars, recreational vehicles and SUVs streamed inland from North Carolina’s coast as up to 90,000 people were urged to get out of the way of Hurricane Isabel, the most powerful storm in four years to menace the eastern US.