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.

Flooding and power cuts were widespread across the east coast of America tonight and 17 people lay dead in the aftermath of hurricane Isabel.

Hurricane Isabel pushed its way up the US eastern seaboard, weakening from 100 mph winds to a tropical storm but not before swamping roads and knocking out power to more than 2.5 million people.

Hurricane Isabel ploughed into the US east coast with 100 mph winds causing at least three deaths and knocking out power to more than 2.5 million people.