Tropical Storm Henri Hits Land: Storm Surge Warnings, Flash Floods Expected
Tropical Storm Henri made landfall on the northeast coast early Sunday morning. Dangerous storm surge warnings have been issued and will be in place continuously until late Sunday.
The National Hurricane Center is reporting strong gusty winds at about 60 mph and rainfall with the potential for flash flooding across portions of the northeast.
Henri is the first tropical storm or hurricane to reach land in Rhode Island since Hurricane Bob in 1991, according to NOAA's historical database.
“Henri is bringing dangerous storm surge inundation, damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding to Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Heavy rainfall may also lead to flooding well inland across parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, upstate New York, eastern Pennsylvania, and much of New Jersey,” according to the National Weather Service.
Power outages are expected for surrounding portions of the east coast. Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee said Sunday he expects more than 100,000 people to lose power as the storms hit the state.
“Currently 58,709 customers are without power in Rhode Island and 10,890 in Connecticut,” according to poweroutage.com.
There are expectations for New Jersey, New York, and Maine to experience power outages also.
“We’re very concerned about the impact that the storm is having on us,” McKee told CNN on Sunday.
McKee also warned people during a news conference that it would be best to stay home while the storm continues.
“I’m asking you, Rhode Island, to say home until this storm passes. You are not only putting your own life at risk, but you are endangering our first responders,” he said.
Conditions are expected to improve by Tuesday.
As of 12:30 p.m. ET, the storm was moving northwest at 12 mph.
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