The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season has prompted a hurricane warning for a wide stretch of the North Carolina coast.

A WEAKENED Hurricane Earl delivered only a glancing blow to North Carolina’s Outer Banks yesterday on its way up the East Coast, flooding roads on the narrow holiday islands and knocking out power but staying farther offshore than feared. There were no immediate reports of any injuries.

Around 30,000 residents and visitors were ordered to evacuate a US island today as Hurricane Earl approached.

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.

MORE THAN 75,000 residents and visitors were urged to evacuate the North Carolina coast yesterday as Hurricane Isabel weakened but remained a dangerous storm on a track toward land.