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Title: Searches Soar on Hurricane Earl
News:
by Mike Krumboltz

Hurricane Earl has been brewing over the Atlantic Ocean for several days, and is now swirling toward America's East Coast. People who fear they may be in harm's way are going online for the latest on the storm's path and destructive power.

Over the past 24 hours, online lookups for "hurricane earl path" have more than doubled. Related queries on "hurricane earl tracker" and "hurricane earl pictures" have also soared.

The Category 3 hurricane, which is as large as the state of California, is projected to approach North Carolina's Outer Banks on Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. Gov. Bev Purdue was quoted as saying, "We're very ready, as ready as anybody can be." By Friday night, experts predict it will hit parts of southeastern New England. 

In North Carolina, where Earl poses a particular danger, searches are especially high. Lookups on "hurricane earl 2010 track" are up 146% and "hurricane earl path" surged 64%, placing the term among the state's top 75 overall lookups. There is also massive Web interest in "hurricane earl wind speeds." According to CNN, the sustained wind is around 125 mph, with gusts up to 165 mph. 

While there is tremendous search interest in things like "hurricane kits" and "storm shutters," people are most interested in tracking the hurricane. A buzzy article from the AP explains that predicting a hurricane's path is getting easier to do, thanks to high-tech computers.

You can follow Earl via The Weather Channel's easy-to-read map. The National Weather Service, a government-run site, includes a "5-day forecast cone" and coastal watches.

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