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WPRI.com live blogged the latest developments with Hurricane Tropical Storm Earl on Friday from noon to midnight. Here’s a recap.

11:53 p.m. | Well, folks, it’s time for me to wrap up the live blog. To summarize, Earl is now a tropical storm and is expected to pass Nantucket at 2 a.m. The heaviest rain is expected through about 3 a.m., and it should be over by dawn. Clear skies and nice weather are expected through the rest of Labor Day Weekend, but rough surf could mean some beaches will still be closed Saturday – be careful. If a downed branch or other debris is blocking your road, call the R.I. Department of Transportation’s hotline at (401) 222-2378 or 222-3005.

I hope this was a useful way for you to track events today. Let us know what you thought at ReportIt@wpri.com – it’s a model we may use in other breaking news situations down the line. Happy Labor Day Weekend.

11:29 p.m. | Don’t try this at home – Gov. Carcieri warned you! – but here’s a short YouTube video showing a surfer at Point Judith in Narragansett today:

Considering I’ll probably trip and fall walking out of the newsroom tonight, color me impressed.

11:23 p.m. | Bands of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Earl will be coming through Rhode Island until around 2 a.m., with total rainfall of 1 to 3 inches expected, the National Weather Service office in Taunton predicted at the top of the hour. The potential still exists for “significant rapid flooding of urban and poor drainage areas” in Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts, the forecasters said. A flash flood watch remains in effect until 3 a.m.

11:04 p.m. | The wind is “really picking up” in Newport, my colleague Stephen Schuler reports from the City by the Sea. Poor Stephen – along with Sean Daly on Block Island, Alex DiPrato at T.F. Green, and Marilyn Schairer in Mattapoisett – are all stuck out in the wind and rain to bring us the story. But that’s the news business in a storm!

11:00 p.m. | The National Weather Service posted this updated map showing Tropical Storm Earl’s expected path as of 11 p.m.:

10:58 p.m. | We have received a number of terrific Earl videos from viewers today, and my WPRI.com colleague Nancy Krause has collected some highlights on this page. Check them out!

10:47 p.m. | At the top of the hour, Tropical Storm Earl was about 90 miles south-southeast of Nantucket, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, according to a new National Hurricane Center advisory. A tropical storm watch remains in effect from Westerly west through Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts to Cape Cod and the Islands.

Tropical storm conditions will spread through the area tonight, and water levels could rise by as much as 1 to 3 feet. Rainfall is expected to total between 1 and 3 inches, with a maximum of 5 inches possible in isolated areas. A flash flood watch remains in effect until 3 a.m.

Although skies are forecast to be mostly clear by midday tomorrow, forecasters are warning that the surf will be rough throughout the day despite the sunny skies. “These swells will likely cause dangerous surf conditions and rip currents,” the new advisory said. Gov. Carcieri said earlier today some beaches will likely remain closed tomorrow.

10:37 p.m. | Earl has been downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center announced moments ago. The hurricane warning has been discontinued, replaced with a tropical storm warning, for Cape Cod and the Islands. The tropical storm warning continues to remain in effect elsewhere in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

10:17 p.m. | From viewer Kristin Rogers in Newport, here’s a striking picture of waves crashing into the shore on Ledge Road at 3 p.m. today. Just remember, officials say it is important residents stay away from the beaches because conditions are dangerous:

10:06 p.m. | Tropical storm force winds – up to 73 mph – are beginning to reach the edges of the shoreline in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well as Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Tony Petrarca reports. More in his full forecast coming up – watch live here or on TV. Meanwhile, Sean Daly questions the sanity of people swimming on Block Island as the storm approaches, and Alex DiPrato talks to unhappy passengers at T.F. Green.

9:59 p.m. | Just a reminder that both our 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts will be shown live here on WPRI.com in addition to on FOX Providence and WPRI 12, respectively.

9:53 p.m. | How’s this for amazing? NASA Astronaut Douglas Wheelock took this photo of the eye of Hurricane Earl this morning – from the International Space Station! (via Twitter)

Also on Twitter, “Family Guy” creator (and RISD graduate) Seth MacFarlane quips: “When they named the storm Earl, they pretty much guaranteed that it would destroy some property.”

9:43 p.m. | One interesting nugget from the Taunton weather office – part of the reason Earl hasn’t been downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm is that all the data isn’t in yet. There were two hurricane flights circling the storm simultaneously at 8 p.m., when the National Hurricane Center put out its last advisory. Once they get back, the data will be pored over to figure out exactly where things stand with Earl.

9:33 p.m. | We’re receiving new information from the National Weather Service office in Taunton. Hurricane Earl is still expected to pass 50 to 100 miles southeast of Nantucket around 2 a.m. before quickly exiting the region on Saturday.

In addition to the hurricane warning in effect for Cape Cod and the Islands and the tropical storm warning in effect for Rhode Island and the rest of Southeastern Massachusetts, there is a flash flood watch in effect until 3 a.m. for Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It may be extended. “The main threat is significant urban and poor drainage flooding,” the weather service said.

Most of the rain should exit Eastern Massachusetts by 6 a.m. after dropping 2 to 4 inches on the area, and up to 6 inches in isolated areas. Then tomorrow looks nice, with “a blend of clouds and sun in the afternoon” and temperatures in the 80s.

9:23 p.m. | Earl is still a hurricane – though just barely – and will make its closest pass to Rhode Island now and over the next couple of hours, WPRI chief meteorologist Tony Petrarca tells me. The wind is starting to pick up in Nantucket. You can watch Tony’s full forecast during our 10 p.m. newscast live on FOX Providence and here on WPRI.com.

9:19 p.m. | The R.I. Emergency Management Agency is warning that the heavy rainfall forecast for tonight could flood the Pawtuxet River, although “the impact will not be anywhere near as catastrophic” as it was during last spring’s record flooding.

Up to an inch of rain an hour is possible at times, with an average of 2 to 3 inches of rain expected to fall in most areas, and up to 4 to 5 inches in places that receive heavy bands. The latest forecast calls for the Pawtuxet to crest tomorrow morning at between 9.6 feet and 10.6 feet, which is above the flood level – though far below the 20-foot level reached last spring.

“People living in the flood plain should take appropriate precautionary measures,” R.I. National Guard Lt. Col. Denis Riel said in a statement.

8:51 p.m. | Right now, one of the big questions is whether Earl will be downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm by the time it passes Nantucket later tonight. It’s currently a weak Category 1 hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center hasn’t officially downgraded it yet, but WPRI chief meteorologist Tony Petrarca just told me Earl will probably be a tropical storm by the time the center releases its next advisory around 11 p.m. Keep checking back.

Readers, what are you seeing outside your windows? Let us know at ReportIt@wpri.com.

8:32 p.m. | The National Weather Service posted this map showing Hurricane Earl’s expected path as of 8 p.m., when the Category 1 storm was located south-southwest of Nantucket and moving northeast at 23 mph with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.

Looking at this, I can see why forecasters warned us that a small change in the storm’s path could make a big difference here – if Earl were to go just a little to the east, Cape Cod and the Islands would sustain a direct hit. Click to see a larger version:

8:24 p.m. | Another great one – waves washing up on Block Island’s Cooneymus Beach this afternoon, from viewer Hank Woodward:

8:17 p.m. | Here’s a beautiful photo sent to us by viewer Andy Fitzpatrick, showing the pre-Earl sunrise at Smuggler’s Beach in South Yarmouth this morning.

8:13 p.m. | If you missed our evening newscasts, never fear – we’re working on posting our team’s video reports here on WPRI.com. I’ll update this list as we add more:

• from Block Island: The last ferry leaves and residents prepare (Sean Daly).
• from Newport: Beaches close but not before surfers have a go (Stephen Schuler).
• from Mattapoisett: Residents recall Hurricanes Carol, Bob (Marilyn Schairer).
• from Westerly: Officials urge swimmers to come ashore (Bob Wilson, WTNH).

And of course, there will be more video at 10 and 11 p.m. on our late newscasts, which will air on television and right here on WPRI.com.

7:54 p.m. | Hurricane Earl, a Category 1 storm, continues to slowly weaken but is expected to remain “a large tropical cyclone as it approaches Southeastern New England and Nova Scotia tonight and Saturday,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. update.

The storm is about 155 miles south-southwest of Nantucket with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.

A hurricane warning remains in effect from Woods Hole east to Cape Cod’s Sagamore Beach and the Islands. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts to Woods Hole.

The current forecast is for hurricane-force winds to remain offshore near Cape Cod, but a small change in the storm’s track could bring hurricane conditions to the Cape and the Islands. Next update is at 11 p.m. Here’s a NOAA radar image of the storm at 7:15 p.m., about 45 minutes ago:

7:42 p.m. | A reminder that the R.I. Department of Transportation has set up two phone numbers for residents to call and report downed trees or other debris blocking roadways. The numbers are (401) 222-2378 and 222-3005.

7:39 p.m. | FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate plans to hold a conference call with reporters tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the storm and its aftermath, and what FEMA is doing.

7:33 p.m. | Now here’s one way to mark a major storm. At Barnstable’s famed Four Seas Ice Cream, a 51-year-old man became the first person to eat an entire Hurricane sundae, a 16-scoop monstrosity that costs $44.40. His was free because he managed to finish it. Here’s the video from CapeCodOnline.com:

7:25 p.m. | The last ferry from Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard left at 5 p.m., the Steamship Authority’s general manager told Boston.com. “After that, it’s going to be on a trip by trip basis,” he said. Regular service is set to resume tomorrow after the storm.

7:14 p.m. | In Newport, law enforcement is dealing with avid storm-watchers who got themselves in trouble, my colleague Stephen Schuler reports. At First Beach, a boogie boarder was stuck in the water for an hour before a surfer helped the individual get back to shore. The Fire Department deployed a jet ski and a few swimmers just to be safe. A second, similar incident took place at Bailey’s Beach. Both people made it out OK.

We have video with this story, and here’s a photo:

7:09 p.m. | From Westport, viewer Kelley Cooper sends along this terrific photo of waves at Goosberry Island. She also reports East Beach Road in Westport “has begun to wash out and is closed.”

7:05 p.m. | Earl’s effects are likely to impact Providence from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., reports WPRI meteorologist T.J. Del Santo (who has been chatting with viewers for over two hours!)

6:49 p.m. | Your blogger is having a quick bite to eat. But he is keeping an eye on the news! Be back shortly.

6:36 p.m. | Officials in Dartmouth closed the Padanaram Bridge to vehicle traffic at 6 p.m. and plan to keep it closed for the duration of the storm, SouthCoastToday.com reports. And a number of stranded cruise ship passengers and boaters from out of town are visiting New Bedford for the first time. “It’s absolutely beautiful,” remarked Bill Hutchison of Delaware.

6:30 p.m. | “But Ted,” you ask, “where is this hurricane you’ve been writing about all day?”

It’s coming. Here’s a radar image taken by NOAA about 45 minutes ago (click for a bigger version) – you can see the eye of the storm was east of Southern New Jersey at 5:45 p.m.:

6:17 p.m. | The American Red Cross’ Rhode Island chapter has opened four shelters in the state, at Gaudet Middle School in Middletown, Narragansett High School, South Kingstown High School, and Tiverton High School.

6:14 p.m. | New England Airlines has suspended flights between Westerly Airport and Block Island, Projo.com reports.

6:10 p.m. | On Block Island, Charles Pyne of Cooneymus Road sends in this photo of a purple flag flying over the island this morning, which indicated all ferries there had been canceled:

6:07 p.m. | Ocean Drive in Newport has been closed by officials because of seaweed and other debris blocking the road, my colleague Stephen Schuler reports. (I wonder how often roads are closed due to seaweed?)

6:06 p.m. | Then there’s the wind. Right now, the Taunton weather office is forecasting maximum winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts of 50 mph. But the forecasters also warn that stronger winds are still possible, since this is still a hurricane, even if it’s a weaker one. The strongest winds will happen tonight through the predawn hours Saturday. Isolated power outages and downed trees are possible. Watch out!

5:58 p.m. | The heaviest rainfall tonight is expected across “far Southeast Massachusetts,” where 2 to 4 inches of rainfall is expected, with up to 6 inches possible in isolated areas, the National Weather Service office in Taunton reported a few minutes ago. Across Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts, 1 to 3 inches of rain is likely, although there is still a possibility of heavier rain – 3 to 5 inches. However much we get, most of the rain is expected to fall over a six-hour period this evening, which could cause minor flooding.

5:51 p.m. | Just received a news release from FEMA, which reports that at 5 p.m. Hurricane Earl was located about 230 miles south-southwest of Nantucket. The storm, currently a Category 1, is expected to turn toward the north-northeast and gain speed in the coming hours. FEMA says President Obama and other federal officials have been briefed on the storm. (The president signed emergency declarations for Massachusetts and North Carolina before the hurricane made landfall.)

5:46 p.m. | We’ve received a number of terrific photographs this afternoon from both our reporters and our viewers, and I’m going to post highlights this evening. Keep sending them to ReportIt@wpri.com. Or even just say hi – I’m here until midnight.

5:42 p.m. | At this point, journalists may outnumber officials at the R.I. Emergency Management Agency Command Readiness Center in Cranston, my colleague Tim White reports (although there’s one room reporters can’t access, so they could be gathered in there). Here’s a photo he sent me of the room about an hour ago:

But it was busy before, as you can see by watching this video of the 1 p.m. news conference Gov. Carcieri & co. hold there:

5:23 p.m. | Hurricane Earl is expected to pass about 50 to 100 miles southeast of Nantucket around 2 a.m. before quickly exiting the region, according to a new National Weather Service forecast. The storm will bring strong winds to outer Cape Cod and the Islands, along with periods of heavy rain from Providence to Boston. The area is expected to stay very warm and humid tonight.

Earl continues to weaken, and the hurricane warning in effect for Cape Cod and the Islands could be downgraded to a tropical storm warning around 8 p.m. And the tropical storm warning in effect for Rhode Island and much of Southeastern Massachusetts could be dropped then, as well.

“What a difference a day makes,” the weather service adds – Earl’s departure early tomorrow will leave us with clear skies and a high temperature in the 80s. But the surf will still be rough even if the weather is nice, so some beaches are likely to be closed. After that, we’re looking at “quiet weather” through Wednesday, when there’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms.

5:18 p.m. | For those just joining us, a good primer to where things stand with Hurricane Earl is Tim White’s article summarizing Gov. Carcieri’s 1 p.m. media briefing. Basically, officials are asking Rhode Islanders to stay off the roads tonight as the wind and rain creates potentially dangerous conditions. But, in Carcieri’s words, “We dodged one.”

5:04 p.m. | Eyewitness News at 5 is on the air with team coverage of the storm from across the region. All of tonight’s newscasts – at 5, 5:30, 6, 10 and 11 – are being shown live here on WPRI.com.

4:55 p.m. | How big is Hurricane Earl? About the same size as the entire state of California, a National Weather Service meteorologist told the Cape Cod Times earlier this afternoon. The paper also reports there was still some ferry service to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket a few hours ago, although it’s not clear to me whether that could have changed by now.

4:48 p.m. | Our colleagues reporting from Mattapoisett sent along this photo of stormy skies but mostly calm seas there about a half-hour ago:

4:45 p.m. | Peter Pan Bus Lines has canceled more than a half-dozen trips scheduled for this evening, including service to Cape Cod. Full details on this page at PeterPanBus.com.

4:40 p.m. | Earl’s top sustained winds are down to 80 mph, and forecasters say it could weaken to a tropical storm by the time it passes southeast of Nantucket later tonight, forecasters told The Associated Press reported a short time ago.

4:35 p.m. | As the worst of the storm approaches, officials’ top concerns include the stretch of I-95 near Westerly and the Connecticut border, where they are concerned heavy rainfall could lead to hydroplaning, R.I. State Police Capt. Darren Delaney tells my colleague Tim White. He also notes Route 10 and Route 6 are always a problem when there is a lot of rain in a short period of time.

The State Police will have more troopers on the roads tonight, Delaney says – even detectives who normally use unmarked cars will be in cruisers.

4:31 p.m. | Earl may put a damper on local residents’ Friday night plans, but after the storm quickly exits the region early Saturday we will have dry, cooler weather for the holiday weekend and into early next week, according to the National Weather Service. The full forecast is coming up on tonight’s newscasts.

4:29 p.m. | In Westerly, business are not too concerned about losing customers this Labor Day Weekend because of the storm, The Westerly Sun reported earlier. One motel owner said his establishment was sold out for the whole weekend.

4:24 p.m. | In non-Earl news today, the U.S. Coast Guard has dealt another blow t0 Weaver’s Cove Energy’s proposed LNG terminal in Narragansett Bay by denying the company’s appeal of an earlier Coast Guard finding that the waterway was not suitable for liquefied natural gas. And the U.S. jobless rate ticked up slightly to 9.6% in August.

4:17 p.m. | The waters by Mattapoisett’s Ned Point Lighthouse are very calm, with little sign of the approaching storm, WPRI chief photographer Les Breault reports from the seaside town about a half-hour away from the Bourne Bridge. Well, there’s a reason our slogan is “prepare, don’t panic,” right?

4:09 p.m. | Less than an hour before Eyewitness News’ evening newscasts begin at 5 p.m., with all the latest on the storm from our reporters across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. The broadcasts will be shown on WPRI.com as well as on television. Get excited!

4:07 p.m. | Passengers at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick are frustrated as a growing number of flights are canceled, my colleague Alex DiPrato reports.

And it’s not just at Green – one woman told Alex her connecting flight tomorrow through Philadelphia to North Carolina has already been canceled because of the storm’s impact up and down the East Coast. Check PVDAirport.com for the latest information on cancellations at Green.

4:00 p.m. | Brad Smith, owner of the eponymous local photography studio, sends in this photo of “the calm before the storm” around 2 p.m. in Warwick’s Conimicut neighborhood:

3:52 p.m. | The three-day Newport Waterfront Irish Festival is still set to take place as scheduled, but tomorrow’s 12 p.m. starting time may be delayed an hour or two depending on the weather, organizers tell us.

3:43 p.m. | Amtrak has now suspended all train service between New York City and Boston’s South Station because of electrical damage in Connecticut caused by a fallen tree, as well as the storm forecast. Passengers who were on board trains when service stopped “are being returned to their stations,” Amtrak said. Check Amtrak.com for more information.

MBTA commuter rail service has not been affected, according to its website.

3:39 p.m. | Rhode Island officials do not anticipate that they will have to close any of the state’s bridges because of high winds, Tim White reports from RIEMA headquarters in Cranston. The rules call for the Newport and Jamestown spans to be closed to large trucks and motorcycles when wind speeds hit 58 mph and closed to everyone when winds reach 68 mph.

3:37 p.m. | Here is a photo of Black Rock Beach on Block Island taken by WPRI photographer Shawn O’Domski within the last hour:

3:33 p.m. | At First Beach in Newport, surfers were still hitting the waves earlier this afternoon before officials closed the beach, my colleague Stephen Schuler reports. The big concern among officials in the City by the Sea is the number of spectators who are down at the beaches trying to see the waves. They could become the victim of accidents, officials said.

3:28 p.m. | On Block Island, officials are relieved that Earl didn’t take the most dangerous track, my colleague Sean Daly reports from New Shoreham. Local shops are disappointed to be losing business for the day, but say they’ve had a great summer overall.

3:23 p.m. | The R.I. Department of Transportation has set up a phone number for residents to call and report downed trees or other debris blocking roadways, Tim White reports from RIEMA’s headquarters. The number is (401) 222-2378. The phone line will be manned all weekend.

3:18 p.m. | I asked Tony Petrarca what he means when he says the size of the storm’s circulation continues to expand. It means the gusty winds are covering a larger area. Got it!

3:13 p.m. | Just a reminder that Gov. Carcieri and other officials are asking drivers in Rhode Island to stay off the roads, particularly I-95 and the other highways, from about 5 p.m. on this evening. They are concerned about the potential for flooding and accidents.

3:10 p.m. | The Red Sox-White Sox game scheduled for tonight at Fenway Park has been canceled due to the storm, NESN reports. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, with games at 1:05 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. Tickets for tonight’s game can be used tomorrow afternoon.

3:03 p.m. | Here’s the latest update on Earl from WPRI’s chief meteorologist, Tony Petrarca:

Earl continues to weaken; however, on the satellite photo the size of the circulation continues to expand. As the center of the storm passes south and east of Nantucket late tonight, it will graze us with wind. The strongest winds will be confined to Cape Cod and the Islands, where a hurricane warning remains in effect. Wind gusts along the rest of the shoreline – from Westerly to Newport, New Bedford and Block Island – will range between 30 to 50 mph in gusts.

Right now, Radar is showing narrow bands of heavy rain moving in off the ocean in advance of Earl. This rain will become more widespread and heavier later tonight, especially across Eastern Massachusetts, which could see 3 to 5 inches of rain. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the entire area because of potential street flooding.

3:00 p.m. | The U.S. Coast Guard closed all ports in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts at 2 a.m., including Narragansett Bay, Mount Hope Bay, Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Bay, Vineyard Sound and Nantucket Sound, according to a statement. The ports will remain closed until the storm passes. Ferry service is being decided on a case-by-case basis.

2:49 p.m. | “A weakening Hurricane Earl swept past North Carolina on Friday on its way to New England,” The Associated Press reported a few minutes ago. It is now a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph.

Earl could weaken to a tropical storm by the time it hits Southern New England tonight, National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read told the AP. It “has been steadily weakening, maybe even a little quicker than forecast,” he said.

2:37 p.m. | Officials estimate that 5,000 people are still on Block Island, down from 8,000 yesterday, after vacationers and others fled ahead of the storm, Tim White reports. Earlier, Gov. Carcieri says they were able to run one more outbound ferry this morning, which hadn’t been expected.

2:24 p.m. | My colleague Tim White is stationed at the R.I. Emergency Management Agency Command Readiness Center in Cranston, and just spoke with an official from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Tim reports:

FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino is here touching base with state officials to see if they need additional help dealing with the storm, as he makes a tour of the Northeast. Sarino arrived following a meeting with Gov. Deval Patrick in Massachusetts.

Cape Cod and the Islands are FEMA’s biggest concern, and officials have moved resources out of Vermont into Massachusetts, Sarino said. For Rhode Island, though, the latest forecast is good news, he said.

2:09 p.m. | Police in Newport will close the gates on both ends of Hazard Road from 4 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Saturday because of flooding concerns. Also, Easton’s Beach is closed for the day, and other places may be closed to the public throughout the weekend. The Ocean Drive and the Cliff Walk are “areas of extreme danger,” officials said.

2:03 p.m. | Amtrak has canceled at last two trains today and is making other changes to its schedule. Check this page on Amtrak.com for more information. (The link mislabeled as being from yesterday afternoon is actually from 12:30 p.m. today.)

1:51 p.m. | Check out our live camera shot of Narragansett Town Beach from the Coast Guard House restaurant. It’s a bit watery, but striking.

1:48 p.m. | Beaches in Warwick are closed for swimming from now until Sunday morning due to the storm, the city just announced.

1:37 p.m. | WPRI meteorologist Pete Mangione will be doing a live chat about the storm here on WPRI.com starting at 2 p.m. If you have questions, e-mail them to ReportIt@wpri.com, leave them in the comments here, or send them in once Pete’s chat starts. I’ll post a link here when it begins.

Also, we are getting in some great photographs from viewers around the region – I will begin posting them shortly. Keep them coming! And if you’re just joining us, read on for highlights from Gov. Carcieri’s latest briefing, which took place earlier this hour.

1:28 p.m. | To summarize, Carcieri’s basic message at the 1 p.m. briefing was to stay off the roads from about 5 p.m. on tonight; there could be flooding, and that could make I-95 and other major roadways dangerous. The rainfall forecast is the only thing that has gotten worse over the past 24 hours. Some beaches may be closed tomorrow even though nice weather is expected because of rough surf.

1:26 p.m. | Massachusetts may get hit by Earl a little more than Rhode Island, Carcieri adds, and if the Bay State needs help, the Ocean State will be there with emergency aid, “as they would to us.” Briefing ends.

1:24 p.m. | “We dodged one,” Carcieri says. “The day isn’t over, but right now everything looks like we’ve dodged this. I think from my standpoint I hope the public understands, we’ve been doing everything we can to get ready cause we never know these things. … You don’t have a whole lot of time, so you’ve got to be prepared.” The storm is also gaining speed as it heads up the coast. He thanks emergency workers, forecasters.

1:20 p.m. | Block Island can expect higher gusts, more wave erosion. Officials there have been working closely with RIEMA. Executive Director J. David Smith says he spoke with police chief on the island, who says people there have been working closely together to prepare for the storm. They were able to have an outbound ferry run this morning, “a pleasant surprise.” Everybody who wanted to get off the island was able to do so, they believe.

1:17 p.m. | Lots of questions about the voluntary evacuation in South Kingstown, which is still in effect but still voluntary.

1:16 p.m. | Carcieri knows people like to watch the storm progress near the ocean. “Please don’t do that,” he says, although he knows some will.

1:12 p.m. | Some beaches may be open and some may be closed tomorrow. Potential for significant beach erosion; Department of Environmental Management will check it out tomorrow.

1:09 p.m. | Gov. Carcieri really pushing drivers not to be on the roads during this evening’s normal rush hour, from 5 p.m. on, because of flooding potential. (And he thanks the media for informing people. No problem, governor!)

1:08 p.m. | Carcieri gives National Weather Service forecasters “a lot of credit” for getting predictions right on Earl. State has prepared because hurricanes are unpredictable, “but the good news is right now it looks as though … we will miss the worst of it.”

1:07 p.m. | Carcieri: “The message to our citizens right now is: tonight, stay off the roads. It’s going to be a lousy night, a lot of rain, some pretty good wind, and it’s not a good night to be on the roads. So please stay off the roads, particularly the interstate.” Flooding on I-95 and other highways after dark could cause accidents.

1:04 p.m. | Carcieri: Heaviest winds still projected for this evening, starting at 5 p.m., heaviest at 8 p.m. and continuing into the night.

Biggest concern is rainfall; very difficult to predict with a tropical storm. Latest forecast is heavier rainfall than expected yesterday. Heaviest rainfall going to occur 5 to 7 p.m. and into the evening. Concern is heavy rain along I-95 corridor (during evening commute). “We’ve taken precautions. The state police, we have additional resources in. We know where the areas are along the interstate and the main highways that are prone to flooding. DOT has sent crews out already” to prepare the roads.

1:02 p.m. | Gov. Carcieri’s briefing has begun. Forecast hasn’t changed for the most part. “They really don’t believe the storm surge will be of any consequence in Narragansett Bay or any of the coastal communities.”

12:58 p.m. | Southwest Airlines has canceled 19 flights out of T.F. Green starting at 4:05 p.m., Projo.com reports.

12:44 p.m. | The next thing we’re waiting for is a news conference with Gov. Carcieri and officials at the R.I. Emergency Management Agency, at 1 p.m. We’ll carry the first part live on TV, and the whole thing live here on WPRI.com. (Heavy rain outside our East Providence newsroom’s window now.)

12:41 p.m. | Just spoke to WPRI chief meteorologist Tony Petrarca. He does not expect hurricane conditions for Rhode Island – that is only expected to happen on Cape Cod and the Islands. Elsewhere we can expect heavy rain and wind starting late this afternoon, mainly on the south shore. He expects 3 to 5 inches of rain total, and there may be some isolated flooding.

Tomorrow morning we can expect sunny skies, but the surf will still be rough tomorrow, so it’s possible beaches will still be closed to swimming.

12:30 p.m. | Hurricane Earl has weakened to a Category 1 storm and is moving north off the coast of North Carolina and Virginia, according to an update from the National Hurricane Center just under an hour ago. It is expected to pass about 50 miles southeast of Nantucket tonight.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Nantucket Barnstable County and Dukes County in Massachusetts, and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for most of Rhode Island; the eastern part of Plymouth County, Mass.; and southern parts of Bristol County, Mass., and Plymouth County, Mass. A Tropical Storm Wind Warning is in effect for Northern Bristol County, Mass., and Western Plymouth County, Mass.

Go back to the first entry.

Update: For the record, went back and checked and that surfer video was sent in by Rob Martinez of Narragansett. Rob, are you the surfer? If so, A+.

Tags: Hurricane, hurricane earl, live blog