A hurricane warning was issued for the North Carolina coast from Cape Lookout to Oregon Inlet.

Alex had maximum sustained winds near 80 mph as of 5 a.m. today and was centered about 75 miles east-southeast of Wilmington, N.C. Hurricane force winds extended up to 25 miles from the storm's center. Tropical storm force winds extended up to 105 miles from the center and the storm was moving northeast at 10 mph.

A tropical storm warning remained in effect from Cape Fear to Cape Lookout, N.C., and from Oregon Inlet to the Virginia state line. All warnings for the South Carolina coast were discontinued at 5 a.m.

Larry Shaffer of State College, Pa., vacationing just across the North Carolina state line at Ocean Isle Beach, wasn't going to let brisk winds and rain drive away his family, who has vacationed there for 13 years.

"We've got the whole family here, including the kids and grandkids," said Shaffer, 63. "If it rains, the girls will go shopping and the rest of us will go out to eat."

Alex emerged as a tropical depression Saturday and hovered off the South Carolina coast most of Sunday. By midday Monday, it began heading north-northeast.

"Now it's started to finally follow the track that was forecasted," meteorologist Steve Wilkinson said Monday. "It just took a little bit to kick it out."

Wilkinson, who is with the National Weather Service's Charleston office, said he expected rain to leave the Lowcountry by today.

The National Hurricane Center watched two other tropical disturbances Monday that could become storms. One was about 1,000 miles east of the Windward Islands, and another was off the coast of Africa, according to Frank Lepore, public affairs officer for the center, near Miami Beach, Fla.

"But that's not atypical for this time of year," he said. "We get a wave every three or four days."

Though Alex's affect on Charleston was subtle, boaters were warned to watch for waterspouts. Surfers tried their luck as the storm roiled the waves washing in at Folly Beach, but Lowcountry beachgoers were warned of potential rip currents moving away from shore.

Only two hurricane seasons on record have a first tropical depression forming later than July 31. But forecasters said a late start doesn't influence hurricane activity. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 and forecasters predict 12 to 14 storms.

Gov. Mark Sanford will meet with state agencies today about plans and preparations for hurricane season.

Sanford and leaders from the S.C. Emergency Management Division, Department of Public Safety, and the S.C. National Guard, among others, will go through a timeline for hurricane preparation and reaction. Each agency will brief the governor on manpower and equipment readiness.

"Basically the governor is bringing everyone into a room and asking them, 'Where do we stand? Is there anything new I need to know about?' " said Chris Drummond, the governor's director of communications.

Today's talks likely will include the status of National Guard personnel and equipment, evacuation routes and weather precautions related to the Cooper River Bridge replacement.

The last big storm to hit South Carolina was Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Last year, Hurricane Isabel threatened the coast, then turned north and slammed into the Outer Banks.

Sanford had officials update evacuation routes around the coastal region last year. He also outlined plans to open South Carolina's weigh stations and outfit them with portable public restroom facilities during hurricane evacuations to minimize inconvenience to drivers.

"These storms are life or death events that folks need to approach with life or death seriousness," Sanford said. "Our team did an excellent job last year pulling together and being prepared when it looked like Isabel was headed our way, and I'm confident we're going to be ready again this year. That's why I want to make absolutely sure that every state agency involved in this process is fully up to speed with our new plans again this year."

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