Hurricane Arthur has been upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane, officials said Thursday morning, and is churning towards the North Carolina coast's prime vacation real estate.
The Outer Banks, a string of coastal islands, is bracing for the storms arrival this evening, with winds up to 95MPH. Dare County, which includes parts of the Outer Banks, has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the popular Cape Hatteras Island, effective Thursday morning. The rest of the county and its Outer Banks have been issued a State of Emergency.
Officials cautioned that residents should not let the Category 1 label lull them in to a false sense of security, and urged coastal areas to heed evacuation orders.
"I encourage all of our coastal residents and visitors to take necessary precautions, listen to local media and use good judgment throughout the duration of the storm," North Carolina Governor Pat McCroy told the state's Department of Public Safety.
Ali Watkins McClatchy Washington Bureau