(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Maine has avoided the worst of the remnants of Hurricane Earl, which raked parts of the state with heavy rain and churned up the surf.

The tropical storm passed to the east Saturday morning, bringing gusts up to 45 mph on some islands. The National Weather Service dropped a tropical storm warning for the state’s two easternmost counties as it became clear that the storm was losing steam.

Meteorologist Mark Bloomer in Caribou says the state is getting some much-needed rain, on the order of 2 to 21/2 inches across central Maine.

The biggest concern is the surf that’s expected to hit 14 feet by midday. He says people near the coast will need to keep a safe distance to avoid the pounding waves.