Storm Henry: New England braces for its first direct hit by a hurricane in 30 years | US news

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New England is bracing for its first direct hit by a hurricane in 30 years, as Storm Henry gathers strength in the Atlantic.

Henry is expected to reach hurricane strength when it makes landfall in the United States on Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center, which tracks the weather system.

The impact can be felt in New England by Sunday, including Cape Cod, which is bustling with tens of thousands of summer tourists.

On Friday, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker urged people vacationing in the Cape to leave before Henry hits, and those who planned to start vacations there to postpone their plans.

“We don’t want people getting stuck in traffic on Cape Cod bridges when the storm is at full strength on Sunday,” he said.

1/3 dangerous storm surge and hurricane conditions possible starting Sunday due to #Henri in parts of Long Island, CT, RI and Southeast MA where Storm Surge Watch and Hurricane Watch are in place. Follow the advice given by local officials. pic.twitter.com/0LFyTw9E5o

– National Weather Service (NWS) August 20, 2021

“This storm is very worrying,” added Michael Finkelstein, chief of police and director of emergency management in East Lyme, Connecticut.

“We haven’t been down this road in a long time and there is no doubt that we and the rest of New England are going to have some real difficulties with a direct hit from a hurricane.”

Mr Finkelstein said he was very concerned about low-lying areas of the city that could become inaccessible due to flooding and storm surge.

The National Weather Service warned of the potential for damaging winds and widespread coastal flooding from Henry, while authorities urged people to secure their boats, refuel their cars and stock up on canned goods.

Between 2 to 5 inches (5 to 12 cm) of rain is expected in the area between Sunday and Monday.

On Friday evening, the system was centered in the Atlantic Ocean about 345 miles (560 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and about 745 miles (1,200 km) south of Montauk Point, New York. It had a maximum wind speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).

Henry was heading northwest on Friday morning, but meteorologists expect it to turn north and approach the New England coast.

Photo: An earthquake-damaged woman retrieves her belongings at a refugee camp in Haiti after Grace hit the country. Pic: AP

Meanwhile, Hurricane Grace was in the south heading for a second landing in Mexico.

Grace temporarily returned to the category of tropical storms, but appeared late Thursday over the relatively warm Gulf of Mexico and was gaining energy, prompting forecasters to predict that it will make landfall again as a Category 2 hurricane.

The US National Hurricane Center said Grace’s winds returned to 85 mph (140 kph) early Friday when their epicenter was about 200 miles (325 km) east of Tuxpan.

The forecast route will take the route toward a coastal area of ​​small fishing towns and beach resorts between Tuxpan and Veracruz by Friday night, then over a mountain range toward the heart of the country and greater Mexico City.

Forecasters said it could fall as much as six to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain, with more in a few isolated areas — leading to the risk of flash floods, mudslides and urban flooding.

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Haitians prepare for storm after earthquake

Grace struck Haiti previously – two days after a powerful earthquake killed hundreds and injured thousands in the Caribbean nation.

The quake brought torrential rain and strong winds of about 35 mph (55 kph) to the southwestern region of the country, which was hard hit by Saturday’s quake.

In the United States, the National Weather Service has warned residents and beachgoers on the North Carolina coast to look out for the rip currents and rough surf associated with Henry.

Rising waves from Henry are expected to create hazardous surf conditions starting on Friday and continuing into Saturday, meteorologist Stephen Pfaff of the Met Office’s Wilmington office said.

And in Connecticut, the Coast Guard urged boaters to stay out of the water, saying in a statement: “The Coast Guard’s search and rescue capabilities are deteriorating as storm conditions increase. That means assistance can be delayed.”

Thursday marks exactly 30 years since Hurricane Bob came ashore in Rhode Island as a Category 2 storm, killing at least 17 people and leaving behind more than $1.5 billion in damage.

Leaving streets in coastal towns full of boats without anchors, Bob left hundreds of thousands without electricity and water for days.

Photo: City workers load sandbags in Miami ahead of the unique tropical depression that hit the states earlier this week. Pic: AP

Large swathes of the East Coast were still recovering Friday from the effects of Henry’s predecessor, Tropical Depression Fred.

In North Carolina, Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher said seven individuals remain unaccounted for, down from about 20 people missing Thursday.

Mr Christopher also confirmed the identities of the two people who died during Fred’s tenure, a 68-year-old and an 86-year-old living in the Croseau area.

“Our thoughts and prayers extend to both families, and we will support these two families in this tragic loss,” he said.

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