Area officials are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Earl as the storm continues to track close to the North Carolina coastline.

Perquimans Emergency Management Co-ordinator Jarvis Winslow said he and local officials are monitoring the situation closely.

“Basically, it all depends on how quick the cold front gets here to keep Earl out at sea, and the speed of Hurricane Earl getting here,” said Winslow.

Following an 8 a.m. briefing Tuesday morning with the National Weather Service, Winslow indicated the track of the storm still suggests it will stay out to sea, but noted that the most eastern tip of Perquimans County (Durants Neck area) may see winds gusts up to about 40 miles per hour Friday morning.

“They are saying there should not be much rain with this for us, just some wind,” he added. “Of course, that could change with the next briefing. We’re hoping the hurricane won’t shift any more to the west.”

Depending on the amount of storm surge at the coast, the level of water in the Albemarle Sound may rise as well, he noted.

To be on the safe side, Winslow said officials are checking to make sure ham radios systems are in good shape, and generators are ready in case of power outages.

“We’re watching and we are making sure we have things in place,” he said.

Hertford Town Manager John Christensen echoed Winslow’s words, saying the town is checking to make sure everything is ready to go in the event it is needed following a storm.

“We’re going over loose ends to see where we stand,” Christensen said. “We’re making sure saw blades are sharpened, generators are ready if needed, and checking the list to make sure we are prepared,” he said.

Winslow encouraged residents to make sure they have storm supplies on hand like extra batteries, water, and non-perishable food. Items that blow in the yard and cause damage should also be secured, he added.

With sustained winds at 135 mph and gaining, Hurricane Earl is expected to spin parallel to the East Coast but remain offshore as it passes Northeastern North Carolina by week’s end.

If the hurricane remains on its projected path, its impact on the area should be “minimal,” said Dan Proch, meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Wakefield, Va.

The storm has only a slim chance of moving ashore and causing more serious damage, according to the storm’s forecast track.

The hurricane, which grew to Category 4 strength Monday evening, has already lashed the Caribbean with full-force gusts and heavy rain and is predicted to strengthen as it bends north toward the eastern seaboard.

Hurricane forecasters are urging coastal U.S. residents to monitor the storm.

Daily Advance Staff Writer Cindy Beamon contributed to this story.