HURRICANE Henri was downgraded on Sunday morning as New York got hit with floods ahead of the tropical storm's northeast landfall.
Prior to the storm's arrival, a state of emergency had been declared for parts of New York after Storm Henri was declared a hurricane.
The National Weather Service's Eastern Region took to Twitter at around 8am ET Sunday to say that "passing over the colder waters north of the Gulf Stream has caused Henri to weaken to a Tropical Storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph hour with higher gusts."
As the storm neared the state, the metro area of New York and parts of New Jersey saw major flash flooding, The Weather Channel reported.
Additionally, President Joe Biden "approved the emergency declarations for Connecticut and New York" as the storm approached, according to reports.
Gov Andrew Cuomo declared state of emergency for Long Island, New York City, Westchester, Hudson Valley and the Capital District region — with the hurricane also destined to hit Massachusetts, and New England.
Hurricane warnings were previously posted from New York's Long Island to Rhode Island, and New York City was under a tropical storm watch.
Pictures from New York showed flooding swamping parts of the city as record levels of rain swept in as the hurricane barrels across the Atlantic.
Read our Hurricane Henri live blog for the latest news and updates…
- Danielle Cinone
EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS GET BIDEN'S APPROVAL
- Danielle Cinone
PREPARE FOR OUTAGES
The Weather Channel warned on Sunday morning that Henri was near.
"#Henri is just hours away from making landfall. It is moving closer to Eastern Long Island & Southern New England," The Weather Channel tweeted.
"Look for strong gusty winds, flooding rainfall and dangerous storm surge as Henri approaches and moves inland today. Prepare for power outages."
- Danielle Cinone
TROPICAL STORM HENRI
- Danielle Cinone
LANDFALL EXPECTED MORNING OR EARLY AFTERNOON
A storm tracker said: "Movement is now NNW at 16 MPH, landfall is expected this morning or early this afternoon. 70 MPH sustained winds and a pressure of 986 mb."
- Danielle Cinone
STORM MOVES EAST
On Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center tweeted: "Tropical Storm #Henri Advisory 26A:
"Center of Henri Moving Closer Eastern Long Island and Southern New England.
"Dangerous Storm Surge, Strong Gusty Winds, and Flooding Rainfall Are Expected in Portions of the Northeastern United States."
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
NHC ISSUES THREAT WARNINGS
The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings about the possible threats that could occur.
As of August 21 at 11am EST, those threats include:
- Heavy rainfall may lead to considerable flash, urban, and small stream flooding, along with the potential widespread minor and isolated moderate river flooding
- Swells that could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents
- Possible tornadoes over southern New England after landfall
FLOODING IN BROOKLYN AS HENRI APPROACHES
NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CONSULTS WITH BIDEN
CENTRAL PARK CONCERT CANCELED DUE TO HURRICANE HENRI
A concert celebrating the "return" of New York City from the Pandemic was forced to cancel mid swing as Hurricane Henri rolled in, CNN reports.
Three hours after it began, the NYPD issued an advisory warning attendees to clear the area.
"Due to approaching severe weather, all those attending the event are to calmly move to the nearest exits and proceed to areas outside of the park. This is NOT an emergency," it read.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
ASTRONAUT CAPTURES HENRI FROM SPACE
NASA Astronaut Megan McArthur posted a picture to Twitter capturing Hurricane Henri from her vantage point in space.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
STORM SURGES COULD BEGIN SATURDAY NIGHT
Storm surge impacts from the arrival of Hurricane Henri could begin as early as Saturday night and continue into Sunday morning, Axios reports.
A full moon on Sunday may also heighten the risk, as tides could be higher when the Hurricane reaches land.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
AMY KLOBUCHAR URGES AREAS UNDER EMERGENCY TO 'STAY SAFE'
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
VIDEO FOOTAGE OF LIGHT STRIKING ONE WORLD TRADE BUILDING
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
BIDEN APPROVES RHODE ISLAND EMERGENCY DECLARATION
Biden has approved Rhode Island's request to be placed under a state of emergency on Saturday night ahead of Hurricane Henri's arrival.
The President announced in a statement: "Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the State of Rhode Island and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Henri beginning on August 20, 2021, and continuing.
"The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, and Washington and the Narragansett Indian Tribe located within Washington County."
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
HENRI WILL TRAVEL UP THE NORTHEAST
As of August 21, 2021, Hurricane Henri's projected path is up along the Northeast.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Henri gained strength in the Atlantic Ocean with winds of up to 75 miles per hour and is expected to make landfall on Long Island or southern New England on Sunday, August 22.
The Category 1 storm is expected to bring several inches of rain and could produce a storm surge of up to five feet.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
LOCAL BUSINESSES BOARDING UP WINDOWS AHEAD OF HENRI
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
EXPECTED PATH SHIFTS EAST
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
NWS ISSUES UPDATE
The NWS has issued an update via Twitter on Hurricane Henri's movements. The Hurricane is now located 180 mi south southeast of Montauk Point with max sustained winds of 75 mph.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
CHUCK SCHUMER URGES FEMA TO 'STAND READY'
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
HENRI COMES ON THE HEELS OF STORM FRED
Storm Fred was expected to bring “the threat of heavy rainfall and severe weather into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic through Friday,” according to the NWS.
The agency described conditions as both “cooler and wetter” comparably to the first punishing days after Fred arrived.
In fact, multiple states around New York are set to be threatened with severe weather, with “heavy and excessive rain… where numerous instances of flash flooding can be expected as rounds of thunderstorms” fall over the same area.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
HENRI COULD IMPACT REGIONS DIFFERENTLY
Hurricane Henri could impact the affected regions differently, according to WBZ meteorologist Jacob Wycoff.
Central Massachusetts has the highest potential for flooding and power outages expected.
The Boston area will see less rain with only minor coastal flooding.
Both the South Coast and Cape Cod are expected to face storm surges at 3-5mph, with the former facing scattered downpours.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING ARE DANGERS
NBC Connecticut Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan urged those in affected areas not to "overlook the heavy rain threat."
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
TRAINS CANCEL SERVICE
Trains, subways, and other transportation services are rapidly closing ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Henri.
Amtrak announced via Twitter that service between New York and Boston would be canceled on Sunday.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
HENRI 335 MILES SOUTH OF MONTAUK POINT
Henri was around 240 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras and 335 miles south of Montauk Point in New York on 5pm Saturday evening.
The storm is currently moving north-northeast at 18 mph.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
YANKEES POSTPONE SERIES FINALE
The Yankees have postponed their series finale game against the Twins due to the incoming Hurricane Henri, the New York Post reports.
The game was set for Sunday August 22, but will now take place on September 13 at 2pm.
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