Long Island coastal areas will escape the biggest impacts of Hurricane Erin, now “a large and growing” Category 2 storm moving away from the North Carolina coast and turning toward the northeast. But as Erin passes well offshore, it will bring indirect, yet significant impacts to the local shoreline, according to the National Weather Service.
A coastal flood warning for Suffolk County from 5 p.m. today through 3 a.m. Friday. A coastal flood advisory is in effect from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.
Widespread minor to locally moderate flooding of vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline with Thursday evening`s high tide is forecasted, the weather service said in the warning issued at 2 a.m.
Local residents should expect 1 1/2 to 2 feet of inundation above ground level in low lying, vulnerable areas, particularly near Orient Point and the Peconic River, the warning states.
“This will result in several road closures and cause flooding of low-lying property including parking lots, parks, lawns and homes/businesses with basements near the waterfront. Vehicles parked in vulnerable areas near the waterfront will likely become flooded,” the weather service said in the warning.
Along Orient Point, 3- to 5-foot breaking waves will result in beach erosion and locally moderate flooding of shoreline roads and properties during this evening`s high tide, the warning states..
For the flood advisory in effect Friday, around a foot of inundation above ground level is expected in vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline, the weather service said.
The National Hurricane Center in its 5 a.m. bulletin said Erin will turn toward the northeast and increase in forward speed later today, followed by an acceleration toward the east-northeast Friday into the weekend.
The storm currently has maximum sustained winds near 105 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast during the next couple of days. Erin is expected to become post-tropical by Saturday.
On the forecast track, the center of Erin will move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda through early Friday, and then pass south of Atlantic Canada Friday and Saturday.
As of 5 a.m., hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 320 miles.
Life-threatening rip currents, high surf close Atlantic Ocean beaches through Saturday morning
Life-threatening rip currents caused by the storm continue to make entering the ocean waters along all of Long Island’s south shore dangerous. A high surf advisory is also in effect, with large breaking waves building to 12-16 feet through tonight, subsiding to 8-12 feet by Friday afternoon, the weather service said in a statement.
All Atlantic Ocean beaches in Suffolk County are closed and will remain closed until Saturday morning due to hazardous conditions expected as a result of Hurricane Erin, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services announced Wednesday afternoon. All state, county, town and village beaches along the south shore are closed and swimming is prohibited.
Marine forecast: gale warning for ocean waters, small craft advisory for L.I. Sound
A gale warning is in effect for the south shore coastline. A small craft advisory is in effect for the waters of the Long Island Sound.
Local weather forecast through the weekend
The NWS local forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers this morning, and high temperatures in the lower 70s. Northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph are expected..
Tonight will be mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy with lows in the lower 60s, according to the forecast. Northeast winds will continue at 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
Sunshine will return tomorrow with highs in the lower 80s and north winds of 15 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph.
Sunny skies with highs in the low 80s will continue through the weekend.
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