Friday, August 20, 2021

Hurricane Watches Issued For Parts of the Northeastern United States

 

#16,133

Although usually born in the tropics - and most often threat to the Caribbean, Central America, or the Southern United States - hurricanes can sometimes threaten the mid-Atlantic and New England states,  and even the Maritime Provinces of Canada.  

In 2012 Superstorm Sandy ravaged New Jersey and parts of New York, and going back further in history, the Great Hurricanes of 1938 and 1944, the double strike of Carol and Edna in 1954, and Hurricane Donna in 1960 prove all prove that our northern states cannot claim immunity to destructive hurricanes.

While T.S. Henri is forecast to intensify into a hurricane before landfall, it's impacts are unlikely to match those of some of its more infamous predecessors.  But hurricanes are always dangerous - even CAT 1 storms - and so those in the path of Henri should be making preparations for its arrival later this weekend. 

This morning, the NHC has issued a series of watches, including:

A Hurricane Watch has been issued for Long Island from Fire Island Inlet eastward and from Port Jefferson Harbor eastward. A Hurricane Watch has also been issued from New Haven, Connecticut, eastward to Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts, including Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Block Island.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued west of Fire Island Inlet to East Rockaway Inlet, west of Port Jefferson Harbor, and west of New Haven.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: 

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for... 
* South Shore of Long Island from East Rockaway Inlet to Montauk 
* North Shore of Long Island from Kings Point to Montauk 
* Kings Point New York to Sagamore Beach Massachusetts 
* Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Block Island

 A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... 
* South Shore of Long Island from Fire Island Inlet to Montauk 
* North Shore of Long Island from Port Jefferson Harbor to Montauk 
* New Haven Connecticut to Sagamore Beach Massachusetts 
* Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Block Island 

 A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... 
* West of Fire Island Inlet to East Rockaway Inlet New York 
* West of Port Jefferson Harbor New York
* West of New Haven Connecticut


Key Messages for those potentially in the path of Henri are:



These hurricane watches could be upgraded to warnings later today, or on Saturday.  

While Hurricane season doesn't peak until mid-September, around August 20th is when we begin to see the season really begin to ramp up.  As you can see by the NHC 5-Day outlook, there are currently 4 features on their map (remnants of Fred, Henri, Grace, and an area of potential development in the Atlantic).

So, if you live anywhere in hurricane country, and you haven't already prepared for this year's hurricane season, this weekend is a perfect opportunity to remedy that gap in your preparedness plan. 
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