Henri expected to slam the Northeast: Hurricane Warnings for southern New England and Long Island

Henri has continued to strengthen off the East Coast and is now a category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 mph. The hurricane is now rapidly moving north-northeast.

Additional intensification is expected tonight before landfall occurs on Long Island or southern New England late Sunday as a category 1 hurricane. The system will then move over the Northeast and back over the Atlantic, skirting the coast of Maine, early-week.

Because of the forecast track and expected impacts, southern New England and Long Island are under a Hurricane Warning. There is also a Tropical Storm Warning for areas farther west and inland, including New York City.

A significant storm surge is expected as Henri approaches tonight and Sunday. The greatest storm surge will occur from Long Island into coastal Rhode Island and Massachusetts where a storm surge of 3 to 5 feet is expected. Significant coastal flooding will occur.

Heavy rain will fall across the Northeast tonight, Sunday, and early next week. The heaviest rain will fall in New England where 3 to 6 inches of rain is forecast. Isolated higher amounts are possible.