Storm Henri news – Biden gives update on response after system makes landfall over Rhode Island
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Tropical storm Henri - downgraded from a hurricane this morning - has made landfall near the town of Westerly, Rhode Island, on the border with Connecticut.
Coastal residents in New England have boarded up their windows, stocked up on supplies, and prepared their generators, local media report. The storm is expected to track to the northwest as it moves inland with more heavy rain and flooding expected.
New York City remains under a state of emergency, announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio last night, as residents were lashed with torrential downpours that broke records.
President Joe Biden provided an update on the federal government’s response on Sunday afternoon, having already approved declarations of emergency for New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
More than 50 million people were put on weather alerts by authorities, according to CNN — more than 12 million under a storm surge warning, 5 million under a hurricane warning, and 37 million under a tropical storm warning.
Reports of flooding in New Jersey
A meteorologist has been reporting on flooding in New Jersey in the early morning hours.
Jordan Steele, meteorologist for America’s Morning Headquarters, tweeted: “Flooding happening NOW in New Jersey. High Water Rescues are in place near Trenton as heavy rain continues to fall. This is the same feeder band from #hurricane #Henri that brought 4-6” of rain around NYC yesterday.”
He added that 6.5in of rain had been recorded in Middlesex, New Jersey, as homes were flooding and water rescues were ongoing.
National Hurricane Centre 8am update
As of 8am EDT, here are the latest updates from the National Hurricane Centre:
The centre of Henri is moving closer to eastern Long Island and southern New England. It is currently 40 miles south-southeast of Montauk Point, Long Island and 75 miles south of Providence Rhode Island.
Maximum sustained winds remain at 70mph as the storm moves at a slightly slower pace of 16mph down from 18mph an hour ago.
The National Hurricane Centre warned that dangerous storm surges, strong gusty winds and flooding rainfall are expected across portions of the northeastern United States.
Some Covid test sites in New York City to close due to Storm Henri
Some New York City Covid testing sites will be closed on Sunday due to Storm Henri, a New York healthcare provider has said.
NYC Health and Hospitals announced on Twitter: “Service Alert: Due to #HurricaneHenri, all NYC Health + Hospitals #COVID19 Testing Sites will be closed Sunday, August 22 and all NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 hospital-based vaccine clinics will close by 1pm on Sunday. #NYCTestandTrace”
Adding: “All other community testing and vaccination sites run by the NYC Health + Hospitals/NYC Test & Trace sites will remain open.”
The healthcare provider also urged New Yorkers to check https://nyc.gov/covidtest for exact hours and locations.
Coastal residents prepare for Henri
As tropical storm Henri is set to make landfall in the northeastern US by midday Saturday, residents have been scrambling to make preparations.
Those living near the coast have boarded up windows to protect their homes, and residents have made runs on supplies including generators and batteries amid warnings that power outages caused by the storm could last days. A number of gas stations from Cape Cod to Long Island have even sold out of fuel.
Residents on Fire Island, a strip of sandy villages barely above sea level, just off of Long Island’s southern coast, were urged to evacuate on Saturday night. The last boats left the island before 11pm, and officials warned that there may be no way of reaching people left behind.
AP
NYC residents told to stay home under state of emergency
As New York City remains under a state of emergency, mayor Bill de Blasio is continuing to encourage residents to stay home until it passes.
The tropical storm was downgraded from a hurricane in the early hours of this morning, but officials say its threat to the US East Coast remains high.
The state of emergency was declared in parts of New York on Saturday, after it was discovered that winds of up to 75mph (120km/h) and as much as six inches (15cm) of rain are expected.
“I’m telling all New Yorkers: Stay home tomorrow,” Mr de Blasio told the New York Times on Saturday.
Here’s what he said when announcing the state of emergency:
PGA Tour postpones final round of Northern Trust
The Professional Golfers’ Association Tour has postponed the final round of the Northern Trust tournament, scheduled to take place at Liberty National Golf Course in New Jersey on Sunday.
A statement from the PGA Tour read: “Based on the projected path of Tropical Storm Henri and the Tropical Storm Warning that has been issued by the National Hurricane Centre for the area where the Northern Trust is located, there will be no play on Sunday 22 August”.
It added that round 4 would be played on Monday instead, beginning no earlier than 7.30am EDT. Tee times and groupings are expected to be posted this afternoon.
Storm Henri Q&A: Everything you need to know
As Henri is downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, here’s a handy Q&A about its origins and potential impact.
What’s the difference between a hurricane and a tropical storm?
It's all about the wind. Specifically, the sustained wind speeds. The maximum sustained winds for a hurricane is anything above 74 mph. A tropical storm? 73 mph. As of Sunday morning, Henri's current winds topped out at 70 mph (110 kph), just shy of hurricane status.
But the greatest threat from a storm this size is water. Heavy rains cause storm surges and inland flooding, and historically, those things have threatened life and property more than high winds.
What areas is Henri supposed to affect?
Right now, it’s looking like New York’s Long Island and southern New England - particularly Connecticut. If it makes landfall in New York, that would be the first time the state’s sustained a direct hit during a hurricane season since 2012’s Superstorm Sandy - the effects of which are still plaguing New York.
When will Henri make landfall?
By Sunday afternoon, it looks like. The National Weather Service says if the storm remains on track, it could make landfall as early as 11am on Long Island. If it does move east, it will hit Rhode Island probably by 2pm.
What are the conditions needed for an Henri?
There are two ingredients needed for a storm to track this far up north: a tropical system itself and steering currents. Most tropical systems in the northern hemisphere run out or recur before they can make their way north, according to the National Weather Service.
Is Henri's path connected to climate change?
It’s just a tropical weather phenomenon, the National Weather Service says. But at the same time, climate change isn't off the hook when it comes to tropical weather - global warming exacerbates hurricanes, making them stronger and wetter.
Is Henri a fast-or-slow-moving storm?
Henri isn’t winning any races, but it steadily sped up Saturday. Its slow churn could be a good thing, increasing the chance it will falter quickly. But it could also mean a lot of concentrated rain, which translates to flooding.
Additional reporting by AP
National Hurricane Centre 9am update
As of 9am EDT, here are the latest updates from the National Hurricane Centre:
The centre of Hurricane Henri is projected to pass just off the eastern tip of Long Island by midday. It is currently around 35 miles southeast of Montauk Point on the tip of Long Island, and 70 miles south of Providence, Rhode Island, the National Hurricane Centre said in an update.
Henri’s maximum sustained winds are at 65mph - below hurricane strength - moving north at 16mph.
Lack of major roadways makes mass evacuation ‘untenable’ says Long Island mayor
A mayor from the town of East Hampton on Long Island has said that mass evacuation would be “untenable” due to the area’s lack of major roadways.
Speaking to the Associated Press, Jerry Larsen said: “We have one lane of travel leaving the Hamptons so it’s a little difficult to order evacuations”.
“So most people will shelter in place, and, God willing, everyone will come through OK.”
East Hampton is on the eastern end of the south shore of Long Island, and is the easternmost town in the state of New York.
Millions on Long Island have braced for the possibility of flooding, fallen trees and power outages.
National Hurricane Centre 10am update
As of 10am EDT, here are the latest updates from the National Hurricane Centre:
The centre of Hurricane Henri is projected to pass just off the eastern tip of Long Island by midday. It is currently around 30 miles east-southeast of Montauk Point on the tip of Long Island, and 60 miles south of Providence, Rhode Island, the National Hurricane Centre said in an update.
Henri’s maximum sustained winds remain at 65mph - below hurricane strength - moving north more slowly, at 14mph, down from the 16mph an hour ago.
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