Hurricane warnings were issued for parts of New York and along the coast of Connecticut as Tropical Storm Henri is slated to become a hurricane on Saturday and start making landfall later this weekend.
The National Hurricane Center said in an advisory on Saturday morning that hurricane conditions were expected to affect areas of Long Island and Connecticut either on Saturday night or Sunday. The center said these conditions may also occur in parts of Rhode Island this weekend.
The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center tweeted that because meteorologists expect the tropical storm could hit southern New England and areas of the Northeast on Saturday night, heavy rain may be expected.
“One potential hazard is HEAVY RAIN, which may lead to considerable flash flooding between northern New Jersey and New England on Sunday and Monday,” the center wrote on Twitter.
The National Hurricane Center advisory also said that a storm surge warning had been issued for southeastern Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and parts of Long Island. These warnings are made when anticipated rising water could lead to potentially deadly flooding, The New York Times noted.
On Friday, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) declared a state of emergency in an effort to bring in federal assistance before the storm makes landfall in the state. He also told residents that they should expect to stay indoors between at least Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.
“With the current forecasted track of Henri, we can expect heavy rainfall and high winds, with the potential for a significant amount of coastal flooding and urban flooding across Connecticut,” Lamont said in a statement. “Right now, it’s a good idea for everyone to be prepared and expect to shelter in place by Sunday afternoon through at least Monday morning. We’ll continue to monitor the storm’s progress and will provide updates as necessary.”
The New York City Emergency Management Department also wrote to New Yorkers on Friday, telling them to take precautions as a storm surge watch was issued for northern Queens and the Bronx. The city said that residents would not be able to swim at their beaches on either Sunday or Monday as a protective measure.