NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Tropical Storm Henri has been upgraded to a hurricane as it approaches Long Island and New England Saturday, bringing potentially dangerous storm surges to the New York City area, the National Weather Service announced Saturday morning.
Hurricane Warnings are in effect for parts of Long Island and southern New England as Henri's winds reach a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour. The hurricane could mark the first time Long Island is directly hit by such a storm in nearly 36 years, according to AccuWeather.
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"A Dangerous Storm Surge, Hurricane Conditions, and Flooding Rainfall Expected in Portions of the Northeast United States Beginning Late Tonight Or Early Sunday," the NWS tweeted.
Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone urged Long Islanders to take the storm seriously on Saturday.
"This storm is significant and potentially dangerous and is like to [be] really impactful in a variety of ways," he said.
Bellone announced a voluntary evacuation order for residents and vistors of Fire island on Saturday. Ferry service to and from the island has been canceled Sunday, with Bellone warning that he is not sure when boats will be able to run again.
"We are urging residents and visitors of Fire Island to leave Fire Island today for their own safety," he said.
Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for New York City and Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Bergen, Essex and Union counties in New Jersey.
Hurricane Warnings, meanwhile, are in effect for Suffolk County on Long Island, as well as southern parts of New Haven, Middlesex and New London in Connecticut. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for Nassau County, southern Fairfield County in Connecticut and southern Westchester County.
AccuWeather is currently calling for Henri to make landfall along The Hamptons on Long Island Sunday morning or early afternoon.
Meteorologists warned that Henri’s projected landfall on Long Island coincides with a full moon — which could mean higher tides and more coastal flooding.
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Saturday is expected to be mostly cloudy and humid, with a few showers and thunderstorms and a high of 82 degrees. Those showers and thunderstorms will increase Saturday night, as coastal flooding continues and winds increase.
AccuWeather projects the heaviest rainfall of 4-8 inches could come for eastern Long Island, and parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and central Massachusetts.
Wind gusts of 40-60 mph are expected as far north as Maine, but Long Island, Connecticut and Rhode Island could see gusts up to 100 mph.
Conditions should gradually improve Sunday night. Monday is cloudy with a shower in spots. The high will be 84.
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