Although Hurricane Earl weakened to a Category 1 hurricane shortly after 11 a.m., it will still swirl up the Eastern seaboard Friday bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the Jersey Shore, Monmouth and Ocean counties, the five boroughs and Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

The rain will be light around lunchtime but Earl will kick it up a notch by the mid-afternoon. WCBS Meteorologist John Elliott said the key period will begin at 3 p.m. and the storm will really start cranking it out around 5 p.m. in Suffolk County.

Authorities warn beachgoers to stay away from the water on the ocean side. Waves of up to 10 feet are expected.

However, Earl is expected to make a quick exit overnight making way for a windy, sunny and cooler weekend.

(Source: WCBSTV)