Hurricane threatens US East Coast

North Carolina braced itself for a glancing blow ahead of the holiday, prompting the governor of the southern state to warn vacationers along its coast not to risk their safety by trying to salvage their picnics and barbecues. The National Hurricane Center predicted Arthur would swipe the coast early Friday with winds of up to 85 mph (136 kph). The storm would be off the coast of New England later Friday and eventually make landfall in Canada's maritime provinces as a tropical storm, the Hurricane Center predicted, Arab News reported. Up north in Boston, one of America's signature Fourth of July events, the annual Boston Pops outdoor concert and fireworks show, was moved up a day because of potential heavy rain ahead of the hurricane. The performance takes place along the Charles River Esplanade, with fireworks set off from barges on the river. Hundreds of thousands of people usually attend. Organizers and public safety officials said the celebration was rescheduled for Thursday, which appeared to be the best of two potential bad weather days. Arthur, the first named storm of the Atlantic season, prompted a hurricane warning for much of the North Carolina coast. Tropical storm warnings were in effect for coastal areas in South Carolina and Virginia. Forecasters expect Arthur to whip past the North Carolina's Outer Banks islands on Friday without making landfall, but Gov. Pat McCrory warned vacationers along the coast not to risk their safety by trying to salvage their picnics, barbecues and pre-paid beach cottage vacations."Don't put your stupid hat on," McCrory said.

On the Outer Banks' Ocracoke Island, accessible only by ferry, a voluntary evacuation was underway. A mandatory evacuation for Hatteras Island visitors began at 5 a.m.