The 8 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami indicates that Hurricane Sandy continues to move to the northeast, parallel to the coast of the southeastern United States, at 10 mph. Forecasters predict the storm will continue in this general direction through the day with a turn toward the north tonight followed by a turn to the north-northwest on Monday.

The center of the storm was located roughly 260 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras. Sandy remains a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. Forecasters do not anticipate any significant strengthening over the next few days.

Hurricane-force winds extend out up to 175 miles from the eye of the storm. Tropical-storm force winds extend outward up to 520 miles.

A tropical-storm warning remains in effect for Beaufort, Tyrrell, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico, Craven, Carteret and Onslow counties, including the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.

A flood watch remains in effect through Monday morning for the following counties: Beaufort, Tyrrell, Dare, Hyde, Craven, Carteret, Jones, Pamlico, Washington and Onslow.

Rainfall amounts will range from one to three inches east of U.S. Highway 17 to three to five inches from the Albemarle Sound to the Outer Banks. This has the potential to produce flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

The flood threat will taper off across most of the area this afternoon as the rain lessens from west to east.