MANTEO, N.C. — A second North Carolina county ordered the evacuation of people on an Outer Banks island ahead of Hurricane Earl.

Dare County officials this morning ordered the evacuation of visitors on Hatteras Island. Officials worry high waves could wash over N.C. Highway 12, the principle road along the Outer Banks.

Officials say they are monitoring the storm before deciding whether to evacuate other parts of the county.

A mandatory evacuation is under way on neighboring Ocracoke Island in Hyde County. The first ferries began evacuating people to the mainland shortly after 6 a.m.

Earl weakened to a Category 3 hurricane early today as it whipped across the Caribbean with winds near 125 mph.