As of this morning, Hurricane Earl is spinning off the North Carolina coast. Downgraded to a category 2 storm, it is expected to weaken further and move off to the NNE, sparing the major urban corridor but likely raking the Cape Cod region with tropical force winds; fortunately, no direct landfall along the U.S. coast appears likely.
But all is not lost. After a hurricane drought of two and a half years, Jim Cantore, the god of weather enthusiasts, finally had the chance to stand in the wind and rain this morning, reporting from the Outer Banks as the peripheral bands of Hurricane Earl whipped across Pamlico Sound, creating a storm surge along the eastern edge of those barrier islands. Backlit by streetlights, Jim braced himself against the onslaught, his microphone fading in and out amidst the torrent. Consumed by saturated air and sheets of rain, he was the picture of heroism to some, a symbol of human folly to others.
The spectacle of a hurricane, fraught with danger and potential destruction, is a stirring sight indeed. These storms offer a lesson about the power of nature and of man's helplessness when caught in their path. Unfortunately, they also provide the opportunity for celebrity-conscious meteorologists to entertain us with their foolish antics.
