Goodbye Earl

Well, Hurricane Earl brushed to the east of NC's Outer Banks last night, bringing rain and wind and mussing the hair of the TV reporters lined up and down the shoreline... but leaving behind no casualties and only minimal damage.

Behind Earl? Some awesome end-of-summer weather, with sunny skies and warm temperatures. More on that later.

The point is, much of the NC coast is clear, literally and figuratively. The Brunswick Islands (Sunset, Ocean Isle, and Holden Beaches), The Cape Fear Coast (Carolina, Kure, and Wrightsville), and Crystal Coast (Topsail, Atlantic, and Emerald Isle) are all completely up and running for your Labor Day Weekend relaxation and recreation.

Meanwhile, officials on the Outer Banks are assessing the condition of roads and other facilities, and are working to re-open to all visitors as soon as possible. Please check the travel advisory (on the upper right side of this blog), or check with Currituck, Dare, or Hyde Counties for the latest information. If you're planning on staying at an Outer Banks vacation rental this coming week, please check with your realty company to find out the condition of the area where you're staying.

Meanwhile, just take a look at the weather predicted for all of North Carolina this weekend:

• Asheville: Sunny 76
• Boone: Sunny 70
• Charlotte: Sunny 84
• Greensboro: Sunny 82
• Kitty Hawk: Sunny 83
• Raleigh: Sunny 85
• Wilmington: Sunny 90

Whatever you decide to do in NC this weekend, have a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend!