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.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo holds storm briefing
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is holding a briefing on tropical storm Henri.
Watch live here:
Red Sox-Rangers game postponed until Monday
The Red Sox-Rangers baseball game scheduled for 6.10pm EDT at Fenway Park has been postponed until Monday because of tropical storm Henri.
Boston’s Major League Baseball team announced the postponement on Twitter on Sunday morning.
The team said that the game was scheduled to go ahead Monday 23 August at 1.10pm, and added that tickets from Sunday’s game would be accepted for admission on Monday.
The postponement comes after the Red Sox lost 10-1 to the Texas Rangers on Saturday.
Cuomo: The potential for serious damage from flooding is very large
At a Zoom press conference on tropical storm Henri, New York governor Andrew Cuomo the latest updates on the storm, including the storm path, and said: “This is an evolving situation. We showed you the most recent track of the tropical storm – it is downgraded, that’s good news.”
Despite the the slightly slower winds, Mr Cuomo warned that the storm would still bring very serious consequences, including flooding, especially if the storm continues to slow down.
“The potential for serious damage from flooding is very large,” he said, while urging people to take proper precautions.
Mr Cuomo said that he expects the stormy conditions to remain in place until around 2 or 3pm tomorrow, adding “we have a long way to go”.
“If the storm continues to slow down and continues to drop rain, it’s going to bring trouble, and flooding with it.”
He ended the press conference by urging people to “remain attentive, and cautious and smart.”
Meteorologist: serious flooding situation if Henri slows down too much
Meteorologist Ben Noll of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research has said that if tropical storm Henri slows down too much, or “near-stalls”, serious flooding could be witnessed in some areas.
He expressed his concern on Twitter, sharing a simulated weather map.
He said: “Concerning to see several models now converging on the idea of near-stall for #Henri over eastern New York on Sunday night...
“ ...this would result in a serious flooding situation for some areas.”
Astonishing amounts of rainfall recorded in and around New York City
‘Most rain ever recorded in one hour in Central Park'
NY1 meteorologist Erick Adams says the rain that soaked New York City on Saturday night broke records.
Key messages from National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center has released its key messages for Tropical Storm Henri.
Dangerous storm surge inundation is expected to continue today in portions of Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and southeastern Massachusetts, where a storm surge warning has been issued.
Tropical storm conditions will continue into Sunday night.
Heavy rainfall may lead to considerable flash, urban, and small stream flooding, along with the potential for widespread minor to isolated moderate river flooding over portions of Long Island, New England, easter New York, New Jersey, and northeast Pennsylvania.
Power outages surge across Rhode Island
As the centre of Henri approaches land, power outages are surging across the state of Rhode Island.
PowerOutage.us has recorded 44,059 customers without electricity across the state.
Henri to track northwest after landfall
NBC meteorologist Bill Karins notes that wind damage will be relatively minor as wind speed drops, but the new path is predicted to track northwest towards Hartford, Connecticut and western Massachussets.
Power outages spread across New England
Rhode Island: 67,000 without power
Connecticut: 13,000 without power
Massachusetts: 5,000 without power
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