Tropical Storm Henri makes landfall in the Northeast

Waves pound a seawall in Montauk, New York on Sunday, August 22.

Tropical Storm Henri made landfall along the coast of Rhode Island near Westerly on Sunday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center.  

The storm is expected to travel westward across Connecticut tonight, and it continues to weaken as it moves farther inland.

If you’re just reading in now, here’s what you need to know about the storm:

The Weather Prediction Center has issued a level 3 of 4 risk for excessive rainfall in parts of the Northeast for Monday into Monday night due to Tropical Storm Henri. This is considered a moderate risk.

This includes southern New York and much of central and southern New England and the cities of Hartford, Albany, Springfield and Bridgeport.

Henri’s slow forward motion over the northeastern US will make for favorable conditions for flash flooding to occur with scattered, heavy showers and thunderstorms expected through the day Monday. Forecast rainfall totals between Monday and early Tuesday morning are expected to be in the 1 to 3 inch range for areas in this moderate risk. 

Similar to the flooding situation in the New York City area Sunday afternoon, there will be the risk for pockets of heavier rain that stall over a given location, thus making flooding likely Monday. In these situations, isolated rainfall totals can amount to around 6 inches.

Henri will begin to take a turn to the east Monday into central New England and eventually depart the Northeast during the day Tuesday as a post-tropical cyclone.

A van drives through a partially flooded street during Tropical Storm Henri in New London, Connecticut on August 22.

Tropical Storm Henri is now a 40 mph tropical storm located about 20 miles southeast of Hartford, Connecticut, according to the 5 p.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center. Remember: A tropical storm has maximum sustained surface winds ranging from 39 to 73 mph.

The storm continues to weaken as it moves farther inland and is expected to become a tropical depression tonight and a post-tropical cyclone by Monday afternoon. This weakening trend has prompted the NHC to cancel all remaining tropical storm warnings.

The center of the storm will track toward the Connecticut/New York border tonight, then take a turn to the east and eventually travel out to sea beginning Monday afternoon.

Heavy rain and flooding remain significant threats for portions of the Northeast through Monday night while the storm surge and damaging wind risks have subsided. Flood watches remain in effect from New Jersey through New Hampshire into Monday.

A submerged Cadillac sedan is seen on a residential street following a flash flood, as Tropical Storm Henri makes landfall, in Helmetta, New Jersey, on August 22.

Tropical Storm Henri is about 100 miles northeast of New York City and 20 miles southeast of Hartford, Connecticut, according to the 5 p.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center.

Henri is expected to travel westward across Connecticut tonight before making a sharp turn eastward.

Here’s a look at Henri’s latest forecast path:

US President Joe Biden speaks during an update on the situation in Afghanistan and the effects of Tropical Storm Henri in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC on August 22, 2021. (Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

President Biden said that the administration is taking the potential impact of Tropical Storm Henri “seriously,” despite it no longer being a hurricane, during remarks from the White House on Sunday.

Biden said the federal government is prepared to assist those state’s impacted by the storm and the heavy rainfall.

“And while New Englanders are used to dealing with some tough weather, this storm has the potential for widespread consequences across the region with significant flooding, power outages, that could affect hundreds of thousands of people. And so we’re doing everything we can now to help those states prepare, respond and recover. I can’t think of anyone better to lead this operation than Deanne Criswell of FEMA,” he said.  

Biden said that he spoke with governors of the states that could be affected and “urged them to take advantage of the assistance FEMA can offer in advance and committed to do everything we can to support their communities through the storm and afterwards. 

He continued, “FEMA has already prepositioned resources in the region to speed our ability to respond, including food, water and life-saving communications equipment, as well as generators. In close cooperation with the electrical sector, preparations are in place to address significant power outages and resources and support that’s staged at the edge of this storm to be able to move quickly in to help.”

Biden said that he already approved emergency declarations for Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.

Biden encouraged residents in the Northeast to “do their part to prepare.”

“Follow the guidance from the local authorities. Some places have already had heavy rains and winds and dangerous storm surges. Henri is going to continue to move across much of the northeast. So it’s important to monitor it closely and be prepared in your home and your community. Make sure you have the supplies for your entire household… And don’t forget that you may need to seek shelter while battling the Delta variant and Covid-19. So wear a mask, and try to observe social distancing,” he said.

President Biden is scheduled to speak at 4 p.m. ET to update the country on how his administration is responding to Tropical Storm Henri.

Earlier today, ahead of Henri’s landfall, Biden approved emergency declarations for the states of New York and Connecticut. Yesterday, he approved a similar declaration for Rhode Island.

In his remarks today, the President is also expected to discuss the ongoing evacuation in Afghanistan.

A couple take photos of the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park during Tropical Storm Henri on August 22, in New York City

A flash flood warning is in effect until 5:45 p.m. ET for New York City and parts of northeastern New Jersey and southern New York.

This warning includes more than 11 million people.

A band of heavy rain associated with Tropical Storm Henri has stalled over the region since this morning and a moderate rain continues to fall. More than 5 inches of rain has fallen in New York’s Central Park since yesterday, making this the heaviest two-day rainfall total for this location since Hurricane Irene in 2011, according to the National Weather Service.

This rain should continue through the evening before likely shifting north and west tonight.

A person walks on a flooded road during Tropical Storm Henri on August 22, in Westerly, Rhode Island.

Tropical Storm Henri is now a 50 mph tropical storm located over Rhode Island, according to the 2 p.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical storm-force winds currently span up to 125 miles away from the center of the storm.

As forecast, the storm’s forward speed is beginning to slow, now moving northwest at 9 mph.

This will worsen the flood threat associated with the heavy rains falling from this storm, including the flash flood warnings currently in effect for parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The storm surge threat is subsiding now and the NHC has canceled all storm surge warnings. A tropical storm warning remains in effect from East Rockaway Inlet, New York through Chatham, Massachusetts, including Long Island, Block Island, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

A city worker collects fallen branches in New London, Connecticut, on August 22, 2021.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said Sunday afternoon that residents should not get complacent even though Tropical Storm Henri is not hitting as a hurricane.

During a news briefing Sunday afternoon, Lamont said that most of the power outages right now are in the southeastern part of the state. He said they will be tracking the storm as it moves further inland and urged caution. 

Twice as many crews are available to help with power restoration than ever before, he said. The state is expecting to see temperatures above 90 degrees this week, and he said they will restore power as soon as possible. 

Lamont said the biggest concern right now is flooding from the amount of rain received so far. Warnings will be issued for localized flooding as the storm moves inland, David Manning with the National Weather Service said. 

Manning said he talked with Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamontearlier today and that they will work together on recovery and response efforts.  

A bicycle sits in floodwaters in Westerly, Rhode Island, on August 22, 2021.

Tropical Storm Henri has made landfall along the coast of Rhode Island near Westerly, according to the National Hurricane Center.  

The storm had winds of 60 mph, with higher gusts.

Weakening is expected today as the storm pushes further inland, but tropical storm-force winds will continue to cause power outages through much of southern New England this afternoon and tonight.

Heavy rain will continue to produce the potential for flooding from New Jersey to New England through Tuesday.

Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee said Sunday he expects more than 100,000 people will lose power as Tropical Storm Henri slams into the state.

McKee said the state is prepared, thanks in part to President Joe Biden’s willingness to sign an emergency declaration ahead of the storm making landfall.

McKee said there are more than 200 power restoration trucks on the ground with more help coming from out of state.

The governor expressed concern that temperatures in the state will be in the 90s through Thursday.

“If we are without electricity you know what that means in terms of the health and economy relative to the, you know, our seniors and those in our business community,” he said.

Narragansett, Rhode Island, on August 22, 2021.

Cindy Laughlin captured a video showing big waves and strong winds from Tropical Storm Henri impacting Narragansett, Rhode Island, on Sunday.

Laughlin told CNN the power has been on and off as the storm approached.

When asked if the debris was coming from her home, Laughlin said she couldn’t “quite tell which house it’s coming from and one of my neighbors scolded me for trying to survey damage in the midst of the storm.” 

Watch the video:

There are at least 69,000 customers without power in Rhode Island and Connecticut as tropical storm Henri hits the coast of New England.

According to poweroutage.com, 58,709 customers are without power in Rhode Island and 10,890 in Connecticut. 

Customers in New Jersey, New York, and Maine are also experiencing outages as well. 

People walk through Times Square in New York on August 22, 2021.

An outer rain band is pivoting into the New York City area from Tropical Storm Henri but is starting to stall, increasing the risk for flooding today.

Computer model forecasts and radar trends suggest this rainband will remain nearly stationary. Much of this rain is expected to be at moderate intensity, but there will be some heavier pockets of rain, which could lead to a nearly an inch per hour rainfall rate. Heavy rain falling in a short period of time in urban areas often leads to flash flooding.

The National Weather Service office in New York issued a flood watch until 8 p.m. ET Monday. A rainfall total of 3 to 5 inches is currently forecast for the New York City area today as Henri moves onshore into southern New England.

In southeastern Connecticut, there is now a flash flood warning in effect until 12:45 p.m. ET, including New London and Groton, as the center of the storm, along with its very heavy rain, approaches the coast.

A dangerous storm surge, gusty winds, and flooding are expected across portions of the northeast as the center of Tropical Storm Henri passes over Block Island, Rhode Island, according to the 11 a.m. ET update from the National Weather Service.

Video from Rhode Island:

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00:19 - Source: cnn

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee speaks at a press conference in Providence, Rhode Island, on August 22, 2021.

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said Sunday the state is bracing for “heavy impacts of high wind, loss of power, and flooding” from Tropical Storm Henri in the next 1-2 hours.

As resources from other states continue to pour in, McKee said he has ordered a ban on state roadways for motorcycles and tractor-trailers, except those carrying emergency supplies.

The governor said he is limiting access to a number of the state’s bridges as well. McKee said “any vehicle that cannot, in the opinion of law enforcement personnel, may not safely cross the bridge” will be asked to turn around.

The state is experiencing more than 8,000 power outages and expects extended outages throughout the day, a concern McKee said he has shared with President Joe Biden and with the national grid.

McKee said Biden promised additional utility workers “to help us get residents and businesses connected back to power as soon as possible.”

Flooding will be a concern across a large portion of the Northeast today and tomorrow as Henri approaches land and eventually moves onshore. 

The National Weather Service offices in the region have issued flood watches for more than 35 million people, including New York, Philadelphia, Hartford, Providence and Albany. 

There is also a level 3 of 4 risk for excessive rainfall in this region.

A widespread 3 to 5 inches of rain is expected for areas in this flood watch, with localized totals of over 6 inches possible. 

Some locations in New Jersey have already measured over 7 inches of rain since Saturday from heavy showers and storms ahead of Henri. This follows a record wet July for parts of New York and central/southern New England.

A buoy southeast of Block Island, Rhode Island, reported a wave height of 19.4 feet as Henri approached this morning.

Wave height is the difference between the crest of a wave and the trough and can be an indication of how strong a storm can be.

As Tropical Storm Henri descends on the New England region, wind gusts have been reported at more than 50 mph in Rhode Island.

Block Island, Rhode Island, recently reported a sustained wind of 50 mph and a gust to 63 mph, according to the 10 a.m. update from National Hurricane Center.

“Another Weatherflow station near Point Judith, Rhode Island, recently measured a sustained wind of 43 mph (69 km/h) and a gust to 51 mph (82 km/h), while a station at Great Gull Island near the eastern end of Long Island, New York, measured a sustained wind of 41 mph (66 km/h) and a gust to 56 mph (90 km/h),” the update said.

A person walks in Montauk, New York, on August 22, 2021.

President Joe Biden has added New York to the list of states he has approved an emergency declaration for, in addition to his approval of Connecticut earlier Sunday. 

This declaration would help “the counties of Albany, Bronx, Broome, Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, and Westchester,” the declaration said.

Earlier this weekend: Biden made the same declaration for Rhode Island on Saturday.

Biden is scheduled to speak at 4 p.m. to update the country on how his administration is responding to the tropical storm.