Tropical Storm Hermine lost hurricane strength over land but was intensifying Saturday along the Atlantic Coast, threatening heavy rain, wind and storm surges on its northward march.
Advertisement
Forecasters say minor coastal flooding is anticipated during the morning and evening high tide cycles on Monday.
In addition, the threat of unsafe rip currents remains high on Monday and a tropical storm warning remains in effect for the coastal waters off the Jersey Shore and Long Island because Hermine is generating “dangerously high seas”, with waves as high as 10 to 14 feet, the National Weather Service said in a marine warning statement.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect only from New York’s Long Island to MA.
The tropical storm warning for New Jersey was lifted at about midnight Monday. It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm and then a post-tropical storm as it moved up the east coast.
Mercer says residents of the six counties in Nova Scotia most likely to be affected by the storm – Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Halifax Metro, Halifax County West and Halifax County east of Porters Lake – can expect showers and wind-resistance on their way to work, but says “it might just be like a blustery fall day”.
“There are still significant waves pounding out there right now”, said Jim Bunker, observing program leader at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
Atlantic County emergency officials advise beach goers to continue to exercise caution and only enter water at guarded beaches as permitted. Homes raised on stilts were standing high above the water.
New York City closed its beaches Monday because of rip currents, and the ban could extend into Tuesday, depending on weather conditions, officials said.
Long Island authorities urged people to evacuate the popular summer getaway of Fire Island to avoid any storm surge and coastal flooding.
Threats from Hermine continue through Tuesday, and possibly into Wednesday, before the storm continues to weaken and move out into the Atlantic Thursday, according to the weather service.
Michael Mann at Pennsylvania State University noted that this century’s 1-foot sea-level rise in New York City meant 25 more square miles flooded during Superstorm Sandy, causing billions in additional damage. Coastal flooding will be still with us but much less than had been anticipated in many previous forecasts.
On Saturday, high winds tipped over an 18-wheeler, killing its driver and shutting down a bridge in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
Advertisement
The storm – which hit Florida as a Category One hurricane on Friday – was forecast to slam the city with tropical storm conditions for several days starting Sunday.
