The storm is churning up unsafe rip currents locally and all along the U.S. East Coast and storm surges in the Northeast.
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But to the federal and state authorities, wind speed was only part of the riddle of Hermine, which seemed ready a little over a week ago to disintegrate without becoming a named storm.
The National Weather Service has continued a “Tropical Storm Warning” Tuesday for coastal CT in New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties.
The Weather Channel said tropical storm warnings are in effect from the coast of Long Island from Fire Island Inlet to Port Jefferson Harbor, New Haven, Conn., to Sagamore Beach, Mass., Block Island (R.I.), and for the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
It might not have taken the path forecasters expected, but post-tropical storm Hermine finally made its presence felt Tuesday on Long Island, spawning strong wind gusts, coastal flooding and some power outages.
On Boston’s North Shore, there are still white caps Tuesday.
Meanwhile, “a tropical wave expected to leave the coast of Africa on Tuesday could develop into a tropical depression by next weekend”, said meteorologists Jeff Masters and Bob Henson, of Weather Underground. Only 1 to 2 inches is expected in southeastern MA, including Cape Cod and the offshore islands.
The storm could regain hurricane force as it hits the region with high winds and storm surge, the National Weather Service said.
Hermine rose over the Gulf of Mexico and hit Florida on Friday as a Category 1 hurricane before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved across Georgia.
Greg and Margee Germaine weren’t letting Hermine ruin their wedding anniversary celebration Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“It may not be swimming weather, but it’s been lovely”, Margee Germaine said, despite overcast skies and heavy surf. Expect gusts of up to 50 miles per hour, according to the NWS.
“We know what a hurricane is”, said Patricia Davis, who owns Davis Beachwear with her husband. “It kind of hurts”.
Mahabub Khan, a cart peddler who works the Jersey Shore, said the crowds were noticeably smaller this year after Hermine warnings reached the hurricane level.
Anthem of the Seas is no stranger to rough waters.
“The impending weather conditions constitute an imminent hazard”, he said in a statement.
Parks officials say beaches will be closed to swimming, bathing and surfing on Tuesday.
“We don’t want to see people, have injuries or loss of life because of going into the ocean in risky conditions”, said Christie. “We are reminding people to refrain from going into the water. The water is still very risky and there are active rip tides”.
“All reports indicate that Hermine will stall off our coast until possibly Wednesday”, John Latka, senior vice president of electric and gas operations, said in a statement. One man died in Florida when a tree fell on him.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott ordered state government offices in 51 counties to close at noon Thursday.
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On Saturday, high winds tipped over an 18-wheeler, killing its driver and shutting down the US 64 bridge in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The identity of the truck driver has not been released.
