[img]http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20100830/capt.photo_1283112579519-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=87&q=85&sig=WrHdNcHRzXDamPLe2EnDVw--[/img]AP - The National Hurricane Center says Earl has strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane with winds near 135 mph (215 kph) as it moves away from the Virgin Islands.