Earl back up to Cat. 4; watches, warnings extended up Eastern Seaboard

Hurricane Earl has ratcheted back up to Cat. 4 strength with 135 mph winds, according to a 5 p.m. advisory from the National Weather Service.

Hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings now blanket the Eastern Seaboard from North Carolina to Massachusetts.

A hurricane warning (hurricane conditions expected within 36 hours) is in effect for:

* Bogue Inlet, N.C., northeastward to the North Carolina/Virginia border

A hurricane watch (hurricane conditions possible within 48 hours) is in effect for:
* North of the North Carolina/Virginia border to Cape Henlopen, Del.
* Woods Hole to Sagamore Beach, Mass., including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

A tropical storm warning (tropical storm conditions expected within 36 hours) is in effect for:
* From Cape Fear to west of Bogue Inlet in North Carolina.
* From North Carolina/Virginia border to Sandy Hook, N.J., including Delaware Bay south of Slaughter Beach and the Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort.

A tropical storm watch (tropical storm condition possible within 48 hours) is in effect for:
* Sandy Hook, N.J., to Woods Hole, Mass., including Block Island and Long Island Sound.
* North of Sagamore Beach to the mouth of the Merrimack River, Mass.