New England Under the Gun as Hurricane Earl Churns Northeast

(Sept. 3) -- Although weakening, Tropical Storm Earl will remain a formidable storm as it races northeast along the coast, churning past Cape Cod tonight and then making landfall in the Canadian Maritimes on Saturday.

Earl's top sustained winds have diminished to 70 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center's advisory at 11 p.m. EDT. The hurricane was 90 miles south-southwest of Nantucket, Mass., moving northeast at 25 mph. It is expected to accelerate further as it is pulled into a faster steering flow along the East Coast.

Earl will continue to weaken as it encounters cooler water and increased wind shear, but it still is a large storm. Tropical-storm-force winds extend roughly 200 miles, so a direct hit is not needed for the storm to affect a region.

The tropical storm will pass closest to eastern New England later tonight, and tropical storm warnings are in effect for Cape Cod. Coastal areas will be battered with strong winds, perhaps including hurricane-force gusts, along with heavy rain and pounding seas. Heavy rain and gusty winds will spread as far inland as Boston, where some minor flooding could occur.

Hurricane Earl passed just to the east of North Carolina's Cape Hatteras early Friday morning, and as the storm continued up the coast today, tropical storm warnings and watches were in effect for much of the remainder of the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts.

Warnings remain in effect for eastern Massachusetts, parts of coastal Maine and Atlantic Canada.

Hurricane Earl Photos

Boaters head ashore at a marina in South Freeport, Maine, in advance of Hurricane Earl, Friday morning, Sept. 3, 2010. Many vacationers are cutting their trips short due to the hurricane. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Hurricane Earl Photos

A television reporter makes the unwise decision to report from the surf as the Nags Head, North Carolina area feels the tail end of Hurricane Earl as it passes through the area Friday morning, September 3, 2010. (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

Hurricane Earl Photos

It's back to business as usual as Kurt Jones sets out beach umbrellas at the Sheraton Hotel on Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, Friday, September 3, 2010. People on the Crystal Coast were relieved by the near miss of Hurricane Earl. (Chris Seward/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

Hurricane Earl Photos

Surfers J.D. Levitan, left, Andrew Crum, center, and Kyle Roberts wax down their surfboards and prepare to hit the waves at the Oceanana Fishing Pier on Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, Friday, September 3, 2010. "We had a three hour delay today, so we thought we'd catch some waves before school," Levitan said. They are from Havelock and were taking advantage of the break provided by the near miss of Hurricane Earl. (Chris Seward/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

Hurricane Earl Photos

As the morning sun breaks through the clouds, Nancy Brady walks by the Oceanana Fishing Pier on Atlantic Beach North Carolina, Friday, September 3, 2010. People on the Crystal Coast were relieved by the near miss of Hurricane Earl. (Chris Seward/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

Hurricane Earl Photos

"We were lucky," said Sam Liptrap, as he cleans up around his property, the Sand Dollar Motel, on Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, Friday, September 3, 2010. People on the Crystal Coast were relieved by the near miss of Hurricane Earl. (Chris Seward/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

Hurricane Earl Photos

As the last few bands of Hurricane Earl clears out, a jogger runs as the sun begins to break through near the Oceanana Fishing Pier on Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, Friday, September 3, 2010. (Chris Seward/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

Hurricane Earl Photos

ATLANTIC OCEAN - SEPTEMBER 3: In this handout satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Hurricane Earl moves past the North Carolina coast September 3, 2010 in the Atlantic Ocean as seen from space. Earl is now a Category 2 hurricane and is predicted to turn up the coast, reaching Long island, New York and New England in the next 12 to 24 hours. (Photo by NOAA via Getty Images)

Hurricane Earl Photos

Ryan MacLeish, a lifeguard with the Rehoboth Beach Patrol, body surfs in waves as Hurricane Earl passes offshore of Rehoboth Beach, Del., on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Hurricane Earl Photos

MONTAUK, NY - SEPTEMBER 03: Surfers ride waves in the water off of the Montauk lighthouse on September 3, 2010 in Montauk, New York. Much of the East Coast is preparing for Hurricane Earl, now a category 2 storm with sustained winds of 105 miles per hour. While current projections are that Earl will continue to weaken as it moves over cooler waters, it still described as a dangerous storm and the largest to make it into the New York City region since Hurricane Bob in 1991. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Hurricane Earl Photos