What Storm?

The skies may have darkened, and a few rain showers drizzled down Friday evening, but the much-anticipated Hurricane Earl seemed to only fizzle.

Hurricane Earl, a Category 1, provided no entertainment for storm lovers in town.

As of 9:30 p.m., only light wind and moderate rain showers were seen. A tropical storm and flash flood watch remains in effect throughout the night.

Police reported no major incidents as a result of the hurricane as of 9 p.m.

Traveling down to Island Park, the lowest-lying area of town, there seemed to be no threat of flooding—for now.

About a dozen people decided to forget the storm entirely and spend their Friday night at The Beach House bar on Park Avenue.

"What storm?" said Brian Lewis of Portsmouth, manager of The Beach House, when asked what he thought about Hurricane Earl. 

A bartender of The Beach House agreed with Lewis. "There is no storm," she said while pouring drinks for the thirsty customers.

Despite the impending storm, Lewis said he expected a full house at the local watering hole that night.

"We normally don't get too crowded until around 10," he said.

A Hurricane party is planned at the Beach House for tonight, featuring the band Bone Shaker.

Patrons at the Park Avenue bar seemed to agree. Hurricane Earl was nothing more than a breeze and a few showers.

"Overhyped and over prepared," said patron Aaron Lindsey of East Providence about the storm. "It'll be just a tropical storm by the time it gets here."

Lindsey, however, was already thinking about the next hurricane.

"It's interesting to have one (a hurricane) every so often," he said. "It would be fun to have another one."

Hurricane Earl is expected to pass southeast of Nantucket by 2 a.m. Saturday.