RALEIGH, N.C. -- Tropical Storm Cristobal hugged the North Carolina coast much of yesterday but offered little relief to firefighters in the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge or drought-parched counties further inland.

Moving northeast, Cristobal followed the coastline within about 20 miles of shore, dumping much of its rain into the Atlantic, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Morehead City, N.C.

Yesterday, the National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm had moved to 45 miles east of Cape Lookout and 40 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras with maximum sustained winds continuing at 45 mph. The storm was moving to the northeast at 8 mph.

National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Bandy said some rain was falling over the smoldering wildfire that has burned 64 square miles in Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge since it was started by lightning June 1.

But the projected rainfall was far from the downpour that officials have said is needed to douse the stubborn wildfire.

Mike Rusnak, a meteorologist with the Wakefield Office of the National Weather Service, said Cristobal is too far south to have much impact in Virginia.

It will be mainly felt along the coast. Rain in Virginia as a result of the storm will be minimal, he said.

The prospect of seeing Cristobal head out to sea pleased a fishing captain standing on a dock at Ocracoke, an island south of Cape Hatteras.

"Let's get it over with so we can go fishing," said Capt. David Nagel, who has operated the "Drum Stick" charter boat for 31 years. "Nobody's out. Everybody's tied up."

Staff writer Juan Lizama contributed to this report.