(Manteo, NC-AP) Aug. 3, 2004 - While the National Weather Service has dropped a tropical storm warning for areas south of Surf City, North Carolina, including the Palmetto State, a tropical storm warning remains in effect from Surf City to Cape Lookout, and a hurricane warning remains Cape Lookout north of Oregon Inlet.

A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area during the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. There is also a tropical storm warning from Oregon Inlet north the North Carolina-Virginia border, including the Albemarle Sound.

Hurricane Alex at 1:00pm Tuesday was located about 15 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and was headed northeast at around 17 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center .

Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Ken Aucoin predicts the storm will head offshore Tuesday evening and will continue to accelerate out to sea overnight.

The storm reached hurricane-force winds early Tuesday with gusts reaching 80 miles per hour. It continued to strengthen, with winds hitting 100 mph and faster gusts by 11:00am, making it a Category Two storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles, mainly to the east of center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

The eye of Hurricane Alex is about 75 miles east-southeast of Wilmington (35.1 N, 75.4 W).

A tropical storm warning had been in effect for Georgetown and Horry Counties, but the weather service now says only showers and thunderstorms are expected in the area, with less than one inch of rain in most cases. No coastal flooding is occurring. Dangerous rip currents are still possible along the beaches.

Dr. Wendy Carey, a researcher, says rip currents can sweep swimmers away from the shore, "Average rip current speeds of one to two feet per second can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. And rip currents have been measured as fast as eight feet per second which is faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint."

Some tips for staying safe in rip tides:

• Don't swim directly against the current.
• If you're a strong swimmer, swim parallel to the shore until you're past the current. Then swim toward the shore.
• If you're a weak swimmer, float with the current until you can signal for help.
• Above all, stay calm.

The state Emergency Management Division does not currently plan to open is emergency operations center, but Governor Mark Sanford will hold a briefing at 10:30 Tuesday morning with multiple state agencies to discuss plans, preparations and procedures for this year's Atlantic Basin Hurricane season.

updated 1:11pm by BrettWitt