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.

Hurricane Isabel is closing in on the North Carolina coast with 105 mph winds and the potential for up to a foot of rain, threatening to cause ruinous flooding across the region.

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.

More than 75,000 people were urged to evacuate the coast of North Carolina today as Hurricane Isabel weakened but remained a dangerous storm on a track toward land.

Residents up and down the US east coast boarded up windows and the military ordered ships and planes out of harm’s way as Hurricane Isabel headed toward land with 120mph winds.

The most powerful hurricane to hit Bermuda in 50 years tonight unleashed winds which uprooted palm trees, blew tiles off roofs and left residents sheltering in their homes.