UPDATE: Henri, a Tropical Storm Again, Just Misses Montauk Point

Henri weakened into a tropical storm Sunday morning and tracked just east of the South Fork — the storm is poised to just miss Montauk point and make landfall in southern New England, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Rain and winds gusting from 30 to 40 mph still blanketed the South Fork Sunday. As of publication, PSEG only reported power outages in Springs and Bridgehampton, impacting around 500 people.

“We'll continue to see rain move through the area into early afternoon,” said Dominic Ramunni, a meteorologist with the Weather Service forecast office in Upton. “A couple of more inches of rain is expected before things start to die down late this afternoon and into early this evening.”

Mr. Ramunni said a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet will still likely affect the bay side of the South Fork.

Many gas stations on the East End were out of gas late Saturday and Sunday, as residents raced to prepare for what outgoing Governor Andrew Cuomo called “as serious as a heart attack.”

The Town of Southampton issued a voluntary evacuation order for about 6,000 residents of low-lying areas; the Town of East Hampton did the same for about 500 residents.

The National Weather Service is encouraging residents to submit reports of storm damage here: weather.gov/okx/SubmitStormReport

East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc declared a state of emergency in the Town of East Hampton as of 1:30 p.m., Saturday.

The Town of East Hampton emergency preparedness team was activated on Friday and is closely following the developing storm, according to a press release issued o Saturday. Town departments from Highway to Marine Patrol and Police are prepared to respond to the weather emergency, it said.

Residents in low-lying areas designated as Storm Surge Zone 1 have been recommended to seek higher ground. Residents may enter their address at gis3.suffolkcountyny.gov/shelterlocator to determine if they are int he storm zone.

According to the release, Supervisor Van Scoyoc has been  working closely with the emergency response team, and had direct conversations with incoming Governor Kathy Hochul, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Legislator Bridget Fleming, and an aide to Senator Chuck Schumer, all of whom have pledged their help to get through the impeding storm.

Sand is being stockpiled at some strategic ocean road ends. The town’s beaches, both bay and ocean, will be closed on Sunday. Residents are advised not to go in the water.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for Long Island during a press briefing this afternoon, calling Hurricane Henri “as serious as a heart attack.”

“The trajectory of the storm changed and we have short notice,” he said. “We’re talking about tomorrow. So if you have to move, if you have to stock up, if you have to get to higher ground, it has to be today — please.”

Heavy rains are expected to start tonight and will accelerate into tomorrow morning with strong winds, Mr. Cuomo reported. Hurricane Henri is projected to make landfall on Long Island tomorrow around 7 a.m., with the eye of the storm arriving around 11 a.m., followed by a 26-hour event that should end by Monday at 2 p.m., he said.

New York residents should anticipate winds of about 80 mph, with gusts of up to 90 to 100 mph, and a storm urge of 3 to 6 feet, he said, which will create “significant flooding,” he said.

Mr. Cuomo added that he spoke with President Joe Biden, who said he is willing to sign a pre-landfall emergency declaration to provide the state with federal assistance to address the storm. The state is also pre-positioning heavy equipment throughout Long Island, and deploying 500 National Guard troops, Federal Emergency Management Agency teams, and 1,000 State Police officers to the affected areas.

“I feel confident saying to New Yorkers that they could not be in better hands in terms of an experienced team,” Mr. Cuomo said. “Now, that doesn’t mean that Mother Nature doesn’t win. She wins. She wins. She won in Superstorm Sandy, she wins every time. But we will be doing everything that we can do to be prepared.”

Southampton Town Police in a release on Saturday said that officials would close Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays at 11 a.m. on Sunday due to the hurricane. Reopening of the bridge will occur when officials deem it safe to do so, the release said.

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman on Saturday afternoon declared a state of emergency in light of the impending storm, effective through Wednesday, August 25 at 11:59 p.m. — and ordered a voluntary evacuation of low-lying areas.

The order authorizes Mr. Schneiderman, in consultation with the town code compliance and emergency management administrator, the Southampton Town police chief, and the highway superintendent “to take whatever actions are necessary to protect life and property, and public infrastructure, and to perform other such emergency assistance as deemed necessary.”

“Residents in low lying areas of the Town, particularly those on the north side bay areas between the forks, as well as bays and inlets along the south shore of the Town, are encouraged to voluntarily relocate to safer locations, in the event flood waters or storm debris render them unreachable by emergency responders,” the order states.

The order also prohibits street parking for the duration of the storm to allow access for emergency vehicles.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone is urging residents to brace for a direct hit from Hurricane Henri — the first since Hurricane Gloria in 1985 — calling it a “significant and potentially dangerous storm.”

“This storm, Henri, is bearing down on Long Island as we speak — and it looks like, more and more, specifically on Suffolk County,” Mr. Bellone said during a press conference on Saturday at Fire Island Ferries in Bay Shore. “We don’t know, at the end of the day, what the exact track will be, but the closer we get to the storm, as each hour passes, it becomes clearer that there will be a significant impact here in Suffolk County.”

Now a Category 1 storm, Henri is expected to cause flooding that could reach as high as 5 feet in some low-lying areas, bring sustained winds of 74 mph — and even higher gusts — and widespread power outages, Mr. Bellone said, pointing to the 650,000 homes without power following last year’s Tropical Storm Isaias, which was not a direct hit.

“We’re looking at a storm now that is potentially, and I would say even likely, going to directly strike us here in Suffolk County, and it may as a Category 1 hurricane rather than as a tropical storm,” he said. “So the likelihood of power outages is great.”

In partnership with the American Red Cross, evacuation shelters will open tonight at Riverhead High School, Hampton Bays Middle School and East Hampton High School, as well as further up island. Mr. Bellone also announced a voluntary evacuation order from Fire Island.

All campgrounds east of Shirley will close at dusk today, including Montauk, Cedar Point, Smith Point, Shinnecock East, Sears Bellows, Indian Island and Cupsogue. Tent camping is canceled at the remaining campgrounds, affecting about 1,000 reservations countywide.

Mr. Bellone has asked local residents to secure any loose items in their yards to prevent them from becoming projectiles that could cause injuries, or damage to property, and for those living in low-lying areas to move their cars to higher ground.

“It’s not impossible for shifts to occur and directions change,” he said, “but as we get closer to the storm — and we are getting close now — that becomes less and less likely.”

In a press release issued early Saturday afternoon, PSEG Long Island cautioned that power outages from the storm could stretch seven to 10 days, or longer if the storm moves further west. The utility has contracted with 3,300 extra line workers, tree trimmers, surveyors and other utility personnel to aid with restoration efforts.

The release states that the company has “personnel ready to respond safely and as quickly as possible throughout the storm,” and has positioned supplies and resources across its service area.

To report an outage or downed wire, call PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour Electric Service number: 800-490-0075 or download the PSEG Long Island mobile app.

Henri strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane Saturday and is forecast to landfall near eastern Long Island Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said in an 11 a.m. advisory.

Hurricane and storm surge warnings remain in effect for the East End. In an updated warning post Saturday morning, the National Weather Service forecast office in Upton wrote that winds could exceed 110 mph and storm surge could reach 2 to 4 feet in southeast Suffolk County.

Dominic Ramunni, a meteorologist with the Weather Service forecast office in Upton, said Henri may undergo some additional strengthening and is expected to landfall between Fire Island and Block Island.

“We're gonna see conditions deteriorate late tonight, with the onset of tropical storm-force winds arriving probably near daybreak — could be a few hours prior,” Mr. Ramunni said, adding that hurricane-force winds will start late Sunday morning. “The best chance of seeing that, of course, as you go further east, closer to the Hamptons.”

Rainfall from Henri is expected to range between 3 and 6 inches on Long Island, Mr. Rammuni said.

The Weather Service urged people to prepare in a post on its website Saturday, and cautioned that extensive wind damage and “life-threatening storm surge” is possible.

“Saturday is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan,” the Weather Service wrote. “Henri will likely make landfall near hurricane strength across eastern Long Island early Sunday afternoon.”

East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen has declared a state of emergency, effective Sunday at midnight, as Hurricane Henri — now a low-level, Category 1 storm — approaches.

Village beaches will close today at 5 p.m. until further notice, and tonight’s fireworks are postponed until September 24, to coincide with the village’s Centennial Celebration.

Long lines have been reported at stores and gas stations as residents prepare for the storm. East Hampton Town traffic control officers have reportedly been put into service controlling the lines at area gas stations.

The National Hurricane Center issued hurricane and storm surge warnings for eastern Long Island on Friday, as Tropical Storm Henri takes aim for a local landfall.

In its 5 p.m. Friday advisory, the hurricane center predicted Henri would come onshore as a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday, and wrote that “preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.”

The local National Weather Service office in Upton wrote that winds could potentially reach 74 to 110 mph, in announcing the hurricane and storm surge warnings Friday. Storm surge could reach greater than 3 feet above ground level.

The Weather Service predicted that the area could see 3 to 6 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts. In anticipation, the East Hampton Fire Department has canceled its fireworks show over Main Beach, originally scheduled for Saturday, August 21.

Henri would be the first hurricane to landfall on Long Island since 1985, when Hurricane Gloria made landfall as a Category 2.

Tropical Storm Henri is forecast to make landfall on the East End as a Category 1 hurricane Sunday, according to a National Hurricane Center forecast issued at 2 p.m. on Friday, as local officials and PSEG raced to prepare.

PSEG Long Island officials cautioned that outages from Henri could last from seven to 10 days, in a press release Friday. The power company acknowledged that eastern Long Island would likely experience the brunt of Henri.

“As the storm makes its way up the coast, employees are preparing for the possibility of high winds that can cause flying debris, and bring down trees and power lines,” Michael Sullivan, senior director of transmission and distribution at PSEG Long Island, wrote in the release. PSEG noted that 1,200 additional power workers were being brought on staff to help.

County Executive Steve Bellone warned of a significant number of power outages, coastal flooding and damaging hurricane-force winds in a Friday press conference.

“We’re keeping an eye particularly on the high tide cycle on Sunday morning, which is already expected to be an astronomical high tide due to the full moon,” Mr. Bellone said. “We are expecting storm surge.”

Mr. Bellone noted the county public works department was prepared with equipment to clear roadways of downed trees and debris, and said it was time for residents to prepare.

Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said he was in coordination with county officials in preparation for the storm, and that the town was preparing emergency equipment as well.

“This could be a significant flooding event,” Mr. Schneiderman said.

While he does not expect to issue any mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders, Mr. Schneiderman said it may be better for residents who can leave to do so.

“If they have other places to go, they might take advantage of that,” he said.

In a press release, the Town of East Hampton also advised residents to brace for high winds, tidal surges and rough surf by preparing home properties.

Organizers with the Hampton Classic Horse Show did just that on Friday, dismantling their tents, stables, stands and vendor stalls to prepare for Henri. The event starts August 29.

“In 2011, we had to do the same thing except that Irene came on our opening weekend and caused us to start three days late,” wrote Shanette Barth Cohen, the event’s executive director, in a press release. “Fortunately, this year’s timing is a little better.”

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who becomes governor Tuesday, urged New Yorkers to stay safe in a Tweet Friday.

“New Yorkers should prepare for heavy rains & strong winds,” the next governor wrote.

Coast Guard officials urged boaters to move large vessels to inland marinas and to remove small vessels from the water in a press release, warning loose boats could hamper search and rescue efforts.

Hurricane and storm surge watches from the National Hurricane Center will likely be upgraded to warnings if the current track holds, Matthew Wunsch, a meteorologist with the local National Weather Service office in Upton, said Friday.

In its 2 p.m. Friday forecast, the National Hurricane Center predicted that Henri may track over Eastern Long Island as a Category 1 storm on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Henri will impact the East End Sunday, potentially as a landfalling hurricane — the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for the area on Friday, and their latest forecast shows a near-direct hit for the East End.

The hurricane watch extends from Cape Cod through Nassau County; Henri is forecast to come through the area as a Category 1 hurricane — storms in this category have winds between 74 and 95 mph.

The National Weather Service is advising East Enders to prepare for hurricane conditions.

“For Long Island, and especially the East End of Long Island, you should expect hurricane conditions: Really heavy rain, gusty winds, dangerous surf, coastal flooding — things of that nature,” said Matthew Wunsch, a meteorologist with the local National Weather Service office in Upton.

Additionally, the Hurricane Center issued a storm surge watch for the East End, writing that a surge “1-3 feet above ground somewhere within surge prone areas” is possible.

The Hurricane Center can issue hurricane or storm surge warnings for an area 36 hours before a storm is forecast to strike — watches can be issued 48 hours before forecasted impacts. Mr. Wunsch said it’s likely that the hurricane watch will be upgraded to a warning if track confidence increases or remains the same through Friday afternoon.

But forecasting Henri’s track has proved challenging for meteorologists with the Hurricane Center.

“Over the last 12 to 24 hours, a lot of the guidance has been shifted closer to our area, so that’s kind of what we’re going to be looking for today,” Mr. Wunsch said. “We’re going to see if that westward trend holds.”

From late Wednesday into Thursday, forecast model predictions of Henri’s track increasingly shifted the storm’s track westward toward Long Island. Originally, the storm was predicted to remain out to sea. On Wednesday, the Hurricane Center wrote on social media that there was “larger than usual” uncertainty with the storm’s forecast track over the coming weekend — signaled in what was then a much wider forecast cone.

But with its Friday 8 a.m. forecast track, the Hurricane Center placed the South Fork almost directly in line for a landfall — in the center of a more narrow cone, reflecting greater forecast confidence.

Even if an area is not in the forecast cone of a tropical system, the National Hurricane Center stresses that impacts can still be felt. For Henri, this means that areas in western Suffolk and Nassau will still likely see impacts from rain and coastal flooding under the current forecast.

Mr. Wunsch said the exact strength of winds and landfall location will be “fine-tuned over the next 24 to 36 hours.”