1600 Hours, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010: The Sussex County Emergency Operations Center continues to track the progress of Hurricane Earl, which forecasters expect will spare Delaware the brunt of its fury, but could still pound the coast with rough surf, gusty winds and minor tidal flooding later this week.

Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center expect the Category 4 storm now with sustained winds of 135 mph to continue its movement toward the North Carolina coastline during the next 24 to 36 hours before turning more northeasterly and bypassing Delaware altogether late Thursday into Friday.

Still, the storm could whip up seas with 15-foot waves well off the coast, with 4- to 7-foot waves and deadly rip currents in the surf zone. Meantime, the storm could brush coastal areas of Sussex County with 35 mph winds, gusting to 45 mph, and as much as an inch of rain before quickly departing the region late Friday night.

No watches or warnings have been issued at this time. However, the Sussex County EOC again reminds the public that with the approach of this storm and the peak of the 2010 hurricane season just days away, preparation is the key to minimizing damage and preventing loss of life.

“We still need to keep up our guard, because a slight westward shift of 50 or 100 miles in the track of the storm’s center could make a huge difference in terms of the effects we feel and the severity of those effects,” said Joseph Thomas, Sussex County EOC director. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Forecasters believe Hurricane Earl’s current predicted track will keep the heaviest rains and winds well of the coast, but some minor tidal flooding is possible in low-lying areas along the oceanfront and near the mouth of Delaware Bay. But it is rough surf, rip currents and beach erosion that appear to pose the greatest threat to the area, beginning as early as late Wednesday and lasting into the weekend.

Hurricane Earl is expected to depart the region and make way for an otherwise sunny and warm Labor Day weekend. Another storm, however, Tropical Storm Fiona, could follow along in Hurricane Earl’s wake and keep seas choppy and the surf dangerous through Monday.

The Sussex County EOC encourages residents and visitors to continue monitoring both storms and their movements toward the coast. For updates, stay tuned to local television and radio stations, the Sussex County EOC Web site at sussexcountyde.gov/services/storm, and the County’s Twitter feed at twitter.com/sussexde_govt. The public should also monitor the National Weather Service, at https://www.weather.gov/phi/, for the latest forecast.

Sussex County is encouraging those planning to visit the area for the upcoming holiday weekend to carefully monitor conditions and exercise caution if going out onto local beaches. Swimming may not be advisable in the days ahead. For those who do venture into the water, always swim where lifeguards are present and obey any advisories or closures.

For helpful tips on what to do in preparation for a hurricane, including evacuation maps and preparedness brochures, visit sussexcountyde.gov/emergency-preparedness.

For more information, please contact the Sussex County EOC at (302) 855-7801.

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Media calls should be directed to EOC spokeswoman Debra Jones at (302) 855-7801 or Sussex County Chief of Public Information Chip Guy at (302) 854-5000.