Update 11:17 p.m.: Earl has been downgraded to a tropical storm.

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Although North Carolina dodged disaster today, and rest of the Mid-Atlantic was largely spared, a weakened Earl continues to move toward New England.

And the storm still has the potential to bring dangerous winds and rain there overnight.

Only minor flooding and minimal damage have been reported along the eastern seaboard so far.

Massachusetts and Rhode Island have both declared states of emergency.

Prison inmates are sandbagging Boston's south shore.

North Carolina Gov.Beverly Purdue says her state dodged a bullet.

There are 7,000 homes without power, but there was no major damage, and no reported injuries.

And Purdue has a message for all those evacuated tourists: come back for the holiday weekend.

UPDATE 6:00 p.m.: Hurricane Earl brushed by North Carolina with strong winds and heavy rain, sending people packing.

The former Category 4 hurricane then headed north to our area.

Earl was a still a powerful Category 2 hurricane when it passed off the coast of the Outer Banks, with gusts up to 80 miles an hour overnight and into the dawn hours on the barrier islands.

The storm surge was between two to three feet resulting in over-wash on the ocean road.

The churning Atlantic ocean became a tourist attraction in its own right today, as people stopped and stared at the dramatic seas.

Even though Earl is now a Category 1hurricane, the New England states are still preparing.

Massachusetts has declared a state of emergency, and shelters have been set up for residents.

Home owners on the coast have boarded up. National grid crews are on Nantucket Island to help avoid local power outages.

And inmates in Plymouth have filled and placed sandbags ahead of the storm.

As dawn broke over Ocean City, Maryland, Earl unleashed strong wind gusts, pounding surf, and minor flooding that sent curious on-lookers running for dry land.

While there are no reports of property damage here, this storm did create spectacular, soaring waves.

The Atlantic's fury was so powerful, deadly rip currents so prevalent, that no one was allowed in the water.

But vacationers are pouring back into Ocean City and other Maryland and Delaware beaches Friday afternoon.

Hurricane Earl is rapidly moving to the northeast at 21 mph as a low-end Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.

It is expected to affect Cape Cod as it continues to the northeast out to sea later on this evening but will exit the East Coast completely by Saturday morning.

Locally all there has been are a few rain showers east of town which have come to an end and clouds will begin to diminish and pull to the east this evening and tonight.

Expect mostly clear skies tonight with lows mainly in the 60s besides maybe a few upper 50s in the far western suburbs.

The weekend ahead will be beautiful with mostly sunny skies, low levels of humidity and cooler temperatures.

Highs tomorrow are only expected to reach near the 80 degree mark with dew points in the 40s by the late afternoon. It will also be breezy at times with winds out of the west around 10 to 20 mph.

Sunday will continue to be pleasant with highs still around 80 under sunny skies. Labor Day Monday is expected to be a touch warmer with highs in the mid 80s under sunny skies.

If you are heading to the beaches expect mostly sunny skies throughout the weekend with highs around the 80 degree mark Saturday and Sunday.

Monday will be a touch warmer with highs in the low to mid 80s.

The ocean will still be bit dangerous at times with rip currents expected to hang around through Sunday, so if you are heading to the beaches, be sure to heed the lifeguards warnings. Stay safe and have fun.

UPDATE 12:09 p.m.: Reporting from Ocean City, Md., ABC 7's Kris Van Cleave finds "strong wind and ferocious waves" slamming the coast, and "tossing Coast Guard vessels like toys in a bathtub."

"Close to the water, where the wind is really blowing it, it's like you're in a sand storm," said Sandy Hagin, an Ocean City tourist.

Officials have closed the the gates along the board walk seawall and dispatched city workers to remove trash cans before the wind blew them away.

Tourist David Gallager was there early Friday when police were sent to clear the beaches.

"The police came, they said, You've got to get off the beach, get out of the water, it's way too unsafe to be in there," Gallagher recalled.

Officially, the beaches are still open, but lifeguards are encouraging people to just stay home.

"Life is our number one priority," said Ocean City's director of emergency services, Joe Theobald. "Use common sense, be safe, the storm will pass and the sun will shine in Ocean City tomorrow."

The storm has picked up its pace as it churns toward New England; it's now moving at 21 mph.

UPDATE 11:53 a.m.: The National Weather Service's Hurricane Center has downgraded Hurricane Earl to a Category 1 storm, with sustained winds of 85 mph.

The Associated Press reports "Earl sideswiped North Carolina's Outer Banks early Friday, flooding the vacation islands but causing no injuries and little damage, then chugged up the Eastern Seaboard toward Cape Cod, a weaker but still dangerous storm."

Earl "was expected to reach New England late Friday night, passing perilously close to Cape Cod, Nantucket Island and Martha's Vineyard at the start of the Labor Day weekend," The AP reported.

UPDATE 5:46 a.m.: Hurricane Earl only made a mild impact on Virginia as the storm passed by the coast early Friday morning. It kicked up wind and light rain, sparing the state from the powerful winds and driving rains Earl dumped on the Outer Banks in North Carolina, AP reports. Virginia Beach emergency officials say there have been no reports of power outages or calls for assistance, AP reports.  The National Weather Service says tropical storm conditions are expected along the Virginia coast until late Friday morning. Up to half an inch of rain is expected as Earl gradually makes its way up the East Coast.  Earl has been downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane.

UPDATE 4:13 a.m.: As Hurricane Earl's bears down on the North Carolina coast, The Associated Press reports the powerful system has also reached Virginia. National Weather Service meteorologist Jeremy Schulz said early Friday morning that rain bands stretched about 140 miles inland in North Carolina and up to the southern tip of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, AP reports. Although Earl had weakened Thursday, published reports say its edges were packing powerful winds as it heads up the Eastern Seaboard Friday.

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.: As Hurricane Earl nears North Carolina, a hurricane warning was issued for the tip of Massachusetts, AP reports. Bill Read, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said the eye of the storm likely will remain about 30 to 75 miles east of the Outer Banks, according to AP. However, the western edge of the eye wall could impact Cape Hatteras.

UPDATE 10:32 a.m.: The USS Cole is returning to port in Virginia ahead of the storm, and volunteers are carrying sea turtle nests to safety, AP reports. Forecasters continue to watch the path of the storm for a possible storm surge.

UPDATE 6:36 a.m.: Hurricane Earl's first encounter with the U.S. mainland should come around midnight Thursday, AP reports. The coast of North Carolina remains under a hurricane warning.

Amtrak announced changes to routes between Virginia’s Tidewater area and Newport News because of the storm, according to AP. On Thursday, Amtrak says trains 67 and 66 will end in Richmond instead of Newport News and Train 95 will end at Washington, D.C. instead of Newport News. On Friday, Train 66 will start from Richmond instead of Newport News, while Train 94 will originate in Washington, instead of Newport News. Trains 95 and 83 will end in Washington instead of Newport News and Train 78 is canceled. Saturday, Amtrak says Train 194 will start in Richmond instead of Newport News and Train 82 will originate in Washington instead of Newport News.

UPDATE Sept. 2, 6:15 a.m.: Earl remains a category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, as ABC 7’s Bob Ryan reports. Many residents of North Carolina and visitors to the Outer Banks have left as Earl heads toward the Eastern Seaboard, according to the Associated Press. Despite storm and hurricane warnings and watches along the East Coast, the storm’s projected path shows it staying offshore and weather forecasts call for a sunny and pleasant weekend in the Washington area.

UPDATE Sept. 1, 1:30 p.m.: Virginia National Guard is preparing for possible recovery operations after the storm and will have up to 200 personnel ready to assist.

UPDATE 1:05 p.m.: The U.S. Postal Service is prepared to deliver Social Security checks before Hurricane Earl hits coastal regions of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. Officials say checks will be delivered on Sept. 1-2.

UPDATE 12:31 P.M.: An update on Maryland's emergency preparations, via The Associated Press.

Gov. Martin O'Malley has advised travelers not to drive to or from Ocean City during the height of stormy weather from Hurricane Earl, which is expected Thursday night and Friday.

O'Malley noted many forecasters are expecting good weather for Labor Day weekend after Earl passes, including ABC 7 Senior Meteorologist Bob Ryan.

O'Malley added it is unlikely Ocean City will need to be evacuated.

UPDATE 11:59 A.M.: Chris Naille's thoughts on Earl: As of this morning my thoughts are that the only local impacts may be a bit of a breeze and a few added clouds. The heaviest or most direct impacts will be along the beaches where there they can expect gusty winds, some rain, dangerous rip currents, and possible beach erosion. For those of you heading to the beach beware that even though weather conditions will improve Saturday and Sunday dangerous rip currents will remain a threat.

Update 11:02 a.m.: Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency for Virginia, in a move that will make additional resources available and allow state agencies to take precautionary actions.

"The current forecast has Hurricane Earl passing east of Virginia later this week. However, a change in the storm's path could bring hazardous weather conditions to eastern Virginia,” McDonnell said.

For extended Hurricane Earl coverage, read more of TBD's storm tracking here.