Outer Banks reopening as Maria races out to sea

WAVES, N.C. Maria raced away from the U.S. East Coast on Thursday, giving the nation its first rest from the constant threat of tropical weather for more than a month.

No injuries have been reported on the U.S. mainland from Maria, which lashed North Carolina’s fragile Outer Banks with high water and waves, washing over the only highway connecting Hatteras Island to the mainland.

Maria moved slowly Monday and Tuesday before accelerating out to sea late Wednesday and weakening to a tropical storm early Thursday. Its tropical storm-force winds extended for as much as 240 miles (390 kilometres) from the centre, churning up the surf on both sides of the fragile islands.

On Thursday as Maria moved further offshore, Officials began reopening the islands of Hatteras and Ocracoke to visitors after more than 10,000 tourists were evacuated Monday. Full ferry service to Ocracoke, reachable only by boat or airplane, was resuming as Hatteras Island also planned to reopen the main road link to the mainland.

The Dare County Sheriff’s Office said stretches of the highway were still covered in sand and water as crews work to clear the road. Officials also warned swimmers to stay out of the ocean because of dangerous surf and strong rip currents that remain.

On Thursday afternoon, Maria was centred about 445 miles (715 kilometres) east-northeast of Cape Hatteras.

Since Harvey formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Aug. 24, forecasters have been watching the Atlantic for likely threats to the United States or the Caribbean islands.

But the National Hurricane Center predicts that Maria and Hurricane Lee, which strengthened to a major Category 3 hurricane Wednesday before weakening to Category 2 in the open Atlantic, were both headed quickly east into colder water and further away from land.