A furious storm system that kicked up tornadoes, flash floods and hail stones as big as grapefruits has now claimed at least 35 lives across the southern US.

Sarah Palin had Sunday dinner with the Reverend Billy Graham a day before a planned stop on her book tour in eastern North Carolina.

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.

Hurricane Ophelia lashed the North Carolina coast with high winds and heavy rains, beginning an anticipated two-day assault that threatened serious flooding and an 11-foot storm surge.

Nearly a million people were without electricity on America’s east coast tonight as hurricane Isabel slammed ashore.

The large eye of a weakened Hurricane Isabel crossed the coastal islands off North Carolina today as the storm pounded the coast.