Image by NWS Earl's cone as of 8 p.m. September 1.
Update September 1 p.m.: Well the evening hurricane models are out (shown up top) and things are looking more and more like a lock just off the coast of North Carolina (to say nothing about what could later hit New England) and tonight and the early a.m. of Thursday will be the defining moment of Earl's path.
Still, low humidity, big waves (6-8 feet on Thursday), and bad rip currents are still very much in the future for the Lowcountry.
First reporting.
We're still waiting on the situation to drastically change, but so far Hurricane Earl seems locked into a path of cruising on a brush with North Carolina's Outer Banks as a major hurricane.
However the storm models are in disagreement with just what will happen when Earl makes its expected turn north and if the storm will pass a good ways off North Carolina, or very near or on the coast.
Worth noting that the storm has decreased to 125 MPH winds and is not expected to strengthen considerably again.
On the upside the humidity has fallen a good bit in Charleston, making the time before the storm quite comfortable. For now the biggest threat to Charleston remains dangerous rip currents and erosion -- the waves on Thursday are expected to reach 5 to 7 feet.
Storm Fiona remains a non-threat to Charleston for the foreseeable future.
Again, we'll keep you updated on our hurricane topic page.